Amateur Era & First Promotion

Lore & Background

Sarri did not play football professionally, taking part as an amateur centre-back and coach while working as a banker. In 2005, he had his first Serie B job at Pescara. In 2014, Sarri won promotion to Serie A with Empoli, and after preserving their place in the top flight he was hired by Napoli. He won several individual awards while managing the Naples-based club; after finishing as league runners-up in 2017–18, Sarri moved to Chelsea, where he won the UEFA Europa League in his only season with the English club. He returned to Italy to coach Juventus in 2019, with whom he went on to win the league title in his first season. After being sacked by Juventus, he was appointed manager of Lazio in 2021 before resigning in 2024.

Reader's Guide

Sarri's first club as manager was Stia, whom he started coaching in 1990 in Seconda Categoria. The following year, he was appointed manager of fellow league team Faellese, and took the club up to the Promozione. Sarri subsequently worked for Cavriglia and Antella, taking both sides to the Eccellenza. In 1998, he was named manager of fellow league team Valdema, but was fired the following January. He took over Tegoleto in the same division in September 1999. In 2000, Sarri signed for Sansovino in Eccellenza, and achieved promotion to Serie D with the side in his first season; he would remain for two further seasons in charge of the club, reaching the play-offs in his last season. His successes with Sansovino caused Serie C2 side Sangiovannese to sign him in 2003, where he remained for two seasons and took the club to Serie C1 in his first campaign.

Did You Know?

• Sarri was born in Naples but raised in Figline Valdarno, Tuscany.
• Fabio Capello was older than Sarri when he won Serie A with Roma in 2000–01.

Amateur Roots and Banking Career

Before achieving global recognition as a top-tier football manager, Maurizio Sarri navigated a unique dual existence that blended finance with grassroots athletics. Born to a Tuscan worker father who was a former professional cyclist, Sarri grew up in small towns like Castro and Faella. He never played professional football; instead, he served as an amateur centre-back for local teams while simultaneously building a career as a banker for Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena.

This demanding schedule required him to work during the morning hours and dedicate his afternoons and evenings to training and matches. His banking profession even took him across Europe to cities like London, Zürich, and Luxembourg. Despite showing promise early on, Sarri missed out on professional trials with major clubs like Torino and Fiorentina due to injuries and a failed transfer deal involving a 50 million lire compensation fee. He eventually retired from playing after struggling physically but maintained his passion for the game, transitioning into coaching at age 28 while still maintaining his banking duties until he finally quit to pursue management exclusively.

Grinding Through Lower Division Management

Sarri's managerial journey was defined by a long, arduous climb through Italy's lower leagues before reaching the professional spotlight. Starting in 1990 with Stia in the Seconda Categoria, he spent over a decade navigating the complexities of Serie D and Eccellenza. His persistence paid off at Sansovino, where he secured promotion to Serie D in his debut season, and later at Sangiovannese, where he guided them up to Serie C1. However, this period was marked by instability; Sarri experienced numerous short stints and dismissals with clubs like Avellino, Hellas Verona, Perugia, and Sorrento. These years were a crucible for Sarri, forcing him to refine his tactical identity amidst frequent turnover and boardroom conflicts before finally finding stability.

Breakthrough Success with Empoli

His first season saw the team finish fourth, reaching the playoff final only to fall short against local rivals Livorno. Undeterred, Sarri implemented his distinctive tactical approach more effectively the following year, guiding Empoli to a second-place finish and securing direct promotion to Serie A after six years in the second division. This achievement was monumental as it marked his first ascent to Italy's top flight. Upon reaching Serie A for the 2014–15 campaign, Sarri faced the immediate challenge of survival against established giants. He successfully navigated this hurdle, finishing a respectable 15th and preserving Empoli's status in the elite division. This successful promotion and subsequent consolidation demonstrated his ability to elevate smaller clubs, proving that his methods could work at the highest level and catching the attention of major European teams.

Napoli Era and Tactical Controversy

His tenure began with significant squad reinforcement, including key signings like Elseid Hysaj, Pepe Reina, and Allan, who became integral to the team's success. However, this period was also marred by controversy; during a Coppa Italia match against Inter Milan, Sarri engaged in a heated exchange with Roberto Mancini and was subsequently fined and banned for directing insulting epithets at the opposing coach. Despite these off-field dramas and the high-profile sale of star striker Gonzalo Higuaín to Juventus, Sarri's impact on Napoli was profound. He established a reputation as one of Italy's most innovative coaches, earning individual awards and setting the stage for his eventual move to Chelsea, where he would later win the UEFA Europa League.