‘I need to rest’ – Luciano Spalletti to take year-long sabbatical after Napoli Scudetto triumph

Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti will take a year-long sabbatical from football, according to the Italian club’s president.

The 64-year-old coach became Napoli manager in 2021, and finished third in his first campaign. He then delivered the Naples-based club the Scudetto at his second attempt with the side, the first time they have won the trophy in 33 years.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Rai, Napoli’s president Aurelio De Laurentiis said he accepted the decision of the manager to step away for a year despite having 12 months remaining on his contract.

De Laurentiis said: “He’s a free man, he’s given us something and I thank him, it’s right that he does what he wants.”

The team last won the Serie A table in 1990, and also reached the Champions League quarter-final stage, where they suffered defeat to domestic rivals AC Milan.

“Sometimes, even with so much love, you have to leave. Now, I’m not able to give everything that Napoli deserves. I need to rest. I feel tired. I need to disconnect for a while. I won’t coach Napoli or any other team, I’ll be off for a year,” Spalletti said in his own statement.

Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport has already reported that Luis Enrique is the frontrunner for the job.

Enrique has coached at Barcelona, Celta Vigo and Roma in club football, and was the Spanish national team boss up to and including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Napoli sit 16 points clear at the top of the table and their last game of the season is at home to Sampdoria on Sunday.