
Mazzarri started his managing career as Renzo Ulivieri's assistant coach for Napoli in 1998. His first first team experience came in 2001/2002 for Sicilian Serie C2 team Acireale, where he already worked as a footballer from 1992 to 1994. Successively, he returned in his native Tuscany to coach Pistoiese of Serie C1 in 2002/2003 and Livorno of Serie B in 2003/2004, bringing the amaranto led by Cristiano Lucarelli back in Serie A. He served as coach of Reggina from 2004 to 2007, leading the Calabrian side to three consecutive savings, the latter being particularly impressive, as obtained in the final Serie A day of the season despite a 11 points deduction. On May 31, 2007 he was announced as new Sampdoria coach.[1]
He served as Sampdoria boss for two seasons, in a team that enjoyed a considerable improvement in results also thanks to the likes of new signing Antonio Cassano, who publicly praised Mazzarri's coaching abilities. Sampdoria's 2007–08 campaign ended in an impressive sixth place which ensured qualification to the UEFA Cup. Mazzarri's Serie A fortunes with Sampdoria slightly declined in 2008–09, as the blucerchiati ended their campaign in 13th place; despite this, he managed to guide his team into the Coppa Italia Final, notably defeating Italian champions Inter 3–1 on aggregate in the semifinals, before being defeated on penalty shootouts by Lazio in a one-legged final. Mazzarri left Sampdoria by mutual consent at the end of the 2008–09 season.
On 6 October 2009 he was appointed as the new manager of Napoli, replacing Roberto Donadoni.[2] He led Napoli to 6th place in the Serie A, being rewarded from chairman De Laurentis on 22 May 2010 with a contract that runs until June 2013
Marotta already knows him from Sampdoria, right?
