Italy calls as Benitez takes reins at Napoli

Rafael Benitez has been appointed as the new coach of Napoli, club president Aurelio de Laurentiis announced on his Twitter feed last night.

The Spaniard, who has left Chelsea following his spell as interim manager at Stamford Bridge, will replace Walter Mazzarri at the Stadio San Paolo this summer.

De Laurentiis tweeted a picture of him shaking hands with Benitez on his verified Twitter account, and wrote: “Rafa Benitez is the new coach of Napoli. A great man with international experience. A leader.”

Benitez quickly emerged as the favourite to replace Mazzarri, who has left the Serie A runners-up for Inter.

Benitez led Chelsea to Europa League glory and a third-placed finish in the Premier League this season after replacing Roberto Di Matteo in November.

The Spaniard won the Champions League while at Liverpool in 2005 and this month’s Europa League triumph was his second win in the competition after he won it with Valencia in 2004 (as the Uefa Cup) before moving to Anfield.

The 53-year-old also won the Primera Division twice with Los Che and has won English and Italian domestic cups with the Reds and Inter.

He moved to the San Siro in summer 2010 after Jose Mourinho had guided Inter to the Champions League and he also has some big boots to fill in Naples.

Mazzarri guided Napoli to the Coppa Italia in 2012 and their second-placed finish this term in Serie A is their best league finish since they won the Scudetto in 1990.

Benitez’s first job will be attempting to keep hold of star player Edinson Cavani who has been heavily linked with a move away from Italy this summer. His appointment last night puts an end to recent speculation over his future after he was linked with the current vacancies at Real Madrid and Stoke.

The club later confirmed the appointment via an announcement on their official website.

“Rafa Benitez is the new coach of Napoli,” read a statement on www.sscnapoli.it.

“The agreement was signed today in London.

“SSC Napoli is happy to welcome a coach so prestigious in their own family. A welcome also to his collaborators.”