Sarri Returns to Lazio for Second Stint as Head Coach

Rome, Italy — Veteran tactician Maurizio Sarri has made a sensational return to Lazio, stepping back into the role of head coach 15 months after his initial resignation from the club.

The 66-year-old replaces Marco Baroni, who guided the Roman side to a seventh-place finish in Serie A last season — narrowly missing out on European competition. Sarri’s comeback marks a rekindling of a previously successful relationship with the club he once led to remarkable domestic heights.

Sarri stepped down in March 2024 after a poor run of form, which included five losses in six matches, and cited dissatisfaction with Lazio’s transfer strategy at the time. Despite that abrupt exit, Lazio’s hierarchy has welcomed him back warmly, framing his return as a restoration of unfinished business.

Club president Claudio Lotito expressed confidence and excitement in an official statement: “Maurizio Sarri has returned home. This is a decision rooted in belief, emotion, and shared ambition. Together, we aim to revive a journey that ended prematurely. Welcome back, Commander.”

Born in Naples, Sarri’s journey to the top was far from conventional. A former banker, he began managing semi-professional sides in the early 2000s before making his Serie A debut at age 55, after securing promotion for Empoli in the 2013–14 season.

He rose to prominence during his time with Napoli, leading them to two runner-up finishes in three seasons and earning Serie A Coach of the Year honors in 2016–17. He then ventured abroad to manage Chelsea during the 2018–19 campaign, winning the UEFA Europa League and reaching the Carabao Cup final.

Sarri returned to Italy to take charge of Juventus, where he won the Serie A title in 2019–20. He joined Lazio in June 2021 and orchestrated a remarkable second-place finish in the 2022–23 season — Lazio’s best league result since their scudetto-winning campaign in 1999–2000.

Now back at the helm, Sarri is expected to restore Lazio’s competitive edge and revive hopes of a return to European football.

By Taiwo Olatinwo | June 2, 2025