Walter Mazzarri (; born 1 October 1961) is an Italian professional football manager and former player.
After a 14-year playing career with Italian clubs including Reggiana and Empoli, Mazzarri coached several smaller Italian sides and in 2007 took up a managerial position with Sampdoria. With the help of the attacking partnership of Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini, he led the team to qualify for the UEFA Cup in his first season and subsequently reached the Coppa Italia final the next year. In 2009, he joined Napoli, where he implemented a 3âÂÂ4âÂÂ3 formation with which he later became associated. With the attacking trio of Ezequiel Lavezzi, Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamà ¡ÃÂk, nicknamed I tre tenori ("The three tenors"), he helped the team qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club's history in 2011, and won the Coppa Italia the following season, the club's first trophy in over 20 years. In his final season with the team, he managed a second-place finish in Serie A, the club's best league finish in over 20 years. In 2013, he moved to Inter but was sacked halfway through his second season with the club. He later managed Torino in Serie A, and had one year in charge of Watford in England's Premier League in 2016âÂÂ17. In 2023, after a gap year from his last management for Cagliari, he returned to Napoli but was sacked in February 2024 after three months.
Mazzarri, a midfielder and a product of Fiorentina's youth system, made his professional debut in 1981 for Pescara of Serie B, and played a short Serie A stint in Cagliari the following season, before being sold to Reggiana. He had his longest period at Empoli, who won promotion to Serie A for the first time during his time with the Tuscan side. After several spells with mostly minor teams, including a two-year stint with Acireale where he was part of the team that won a historic first promotion to Serie B, and then playing in the Italian second tier in 1993âÂÂ94, Mazzarri ended his playing career in 1995 with Sassari Torres.
Mazzarri started his coaching career as Renzo Ulivieri's assistant at Napoli in 1998. His first spell in charge came in 2001âÂÂ02 for Sicilian Serie C2 team Acireale, where he had been a player from 1992 to 1994. Subsequently, he returned to his native Tuscany to coach Pistoiese of Serie C1 in 2002âÂÂ03 and Livorno of Serie B in 2003âÂÂ04, bringing the amaranto led by Cristiano Lucarelli back to Serie A. He was coach of Reggina from 2004 to 2007, leading the Calabrian side to Serie A survival in three consecutive seasons, the last obtained on the final day of the season despite an 11-point deduction. In May 2007, Mazzarri was made an honorary citizen of Reggio Calabria, after helping the club avoid relegation during the 2006âÂÂ07 Serie A season.
On 31 May 2007, he was announced as the new Sampdoria coach. He served as Sampdoria boss for two seasons, overseeing a considerable improvement in results, thanks to the likes of the attacking duo of Antonio Cassano, who publicly praised Mazzarri's coaching abilities, and Giampaolo Pazzini; the duo were likened to the partnership of Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli, who won the scudetto with the club in 1991. Sampdoria's 2007âÂÂ08 campaign ended in an impressive sixth place, which ensured qualification for the UEFA Cup. Mazzarri's fortunes declined slightly in 2008âÂÂ09, as the Blucerchiati ended their campaign in 13th place; despite this, he managed to guide his team into the Coppa Italia final, notably defeating champions Inter 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate in the semi-finals, before losing on penalties to Lazio in the final. Mazzarri left Sampdoria by mutual consent at the end of the 2008âÂÂ09 season.
On 6 October 2009 he was appointed manager of Napoli, replacing Roberto Donadoni. He finished his debut season in sixth place in Serie A, and was handed a new three-year contract at the end of the campaign.
In 2010âÂÂ11, Mazzarri's Napoli finished third in the league and qualified directly for the group phase of the 2011âÂÂ12 UEFA Champions League â their first time in Europe's premier competition in 21 years. His team were known for using an attacking 3âÂÂ4âÂÂ3 formation with a frontline three of Ezequiel Lavezzi, Marek Hamà ¡ÃÂk and Edinson Cavani, who were nicknamed I tre tenori ("The Three Tenors"); Mazzarri also employed variations upon this system on occasion, such as 3âÂÂ5âÂÂ2 formation, the 3âÂÂ4âÂÂ1âÂÂ2, and the 3âÂÂ5âÂÂ1âÂÂ1. They finished second in their Champions League group, behind Bayern Munich but ahead of Manchester City and Villarreal, to meet Chelsea in the last 16. Napoli won 3âÂÂ1 at home in the first leg; they were subsequently beaten 4âÂÂ1 at Stamford Bridge after extra time, being eliminated by the eventual champions.
Napoli won the 2012 Coppa Italia final over undefeated league champions Juventus on 20 May; this was Juventus's only loss of the season, and Napoli's first title in over 20 years. On 11 August that year, the club suffered a controversial 4âÂÂ2 extra-time defeat to Juventus in the 2012 Supercoppa Italiana, which saw two Napoli players sent off as well as Mazzarri. He left the Azzurri on 19 May 2013, after leading them to a 2nd-place finish and a spot in the Champions League at the end of the 2012âÂÂ13 Serie A season; this was the club's best league finish in over 20 years.
Mazzarri was officially appointed as the Inter manager on 24 May 2013, after Andrea Stramaccioni was dismissed for a poor performance in the 2012âÂÂ13 season. On 2 July 2014, he signed a one-year extension to tie him to the team until 30 June 2016.
He was sacked by Inter after a series of disappointing results on 14 November 2014, leaving the club in ninth place. He parted with the club before the 12th matchday, while they were five points below their season objective of the third position.
On 21 May 2016, Watford confirmed they had reached an agreement with Mazzarri to become head coach from 1 July 2016 on a three-year contract. He joined a club owned by his compatriot Giampaolo Pozzo, and worked without being able to speak English.
Mazzarri secured Watford's Premier League status that season, finishing one place above relegation in 17th, a four-place dip on their previous campaign. It was announced on 17 May 2017 that his contract would be terminated at the end of his first season at the club.
On 4 January 2018, Mazzarri was appointed manager of Torino, replacing Sinià ¡a MihajloviÃÂ. With a 7th-place finish in 2018âÂÂ19 he led the Granata to the UEFA Europa League, where they were eliminated in the play-off round by Wolverhampton Wanderers.
On 4 February 2020, Mazzarri was dismissed following back-to-back 7âÂÂ0 and 4âÂÂ0 defeats to Atalanta and Lecce, respectively.
On 15 September 2021, Mazzarri signed a three-year contract with Serie A club Cagliari as their new head coach, replacing Leonardo Semplici. During his tenure, Cagliari failed to improve performances and found themselves deep in relegation trouble with three games to go, leading to Mazzarri's dismissal from his position on 2 May 2022.
On 14 November 2023, Napoli appointed Mazzarri as their new head coach on a seven-month contract, replacing Rudi Garcia, marking Mazzarri's return to Naples after ten years. He was sacked on 19 February 2024, after a 1âÂÂ1 home draw to Genoa.
Tactically, Mazzarri is known for using a fluid attacking 3âÂÂ4âÂÂ3 formation as a manager; at Napoli, his effective front three of Lavezzi, Hamà ¡ÃÂk, and Cavani were dubbed I tre tenori ("The Three Tenors"). He has also used variations of this system on occasion throughout his career, such as the 3âÂÂ5âÂÂ2 formation, the 3âÂÂ4âÂÂ1âÂÂ2, the 3âÂÂ4âÂÂ2âÂÂ1, and the 3âÂÂ5âÂÂ1âÂÂ1, which made use of wing-backs in lieu of wide midfielders, who were crucial to the system's success. The wing-backs would push up to join the forwards in attack when the team were in possession, to help create or finish off chances. However, they would also subsequently track back off the ball, turning the defensive line-up into a back-five. During his second spell at Napoli, Mazzarri also used a 4âÂÂ3âÂÂ3 formation, which had been employed by his predecessor, Luciano Spalletti, during the 2022âÂÂ23 season.
Although he earned a reputation as one of the best coaches in Serie A during the early 2010s, Mazzarri also became known in Italy for the excuses he made for poor performances during post-match interviews.