By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Maurizio Sarri has resigned as Lazio coach and will be replaced by assistant Giovanni Martusciello, the Serie A club said on Wednesday.
“S.S. Lazio announces that Maurizio Sarri has handed in his resignation as head coach of the first team,” the club said in a statement.
“The club would like to thank the coach for his achievements and for the work he has done, wishing him the best of luck in his professional and personal life.
“At the same time, the club communicates that it has decided to entrust Giovanni Martusciello with the technical leadership.”
Monday’s 2-1 home defeat by Udinese left Lazio ninth in Serie A, seven points off the final European qualification place.
They were knocked out the Champions League last week by Bayern Munich.
Sarri, 65, joined Lazio in 2021 and led them to second place in Serie A last season, their best league finish since they won the title in 1999-2000.
Lazio travel to third-bottom Frosinone on Saturday. They face Juventus in the semi-finals of the Italian Cup over two legs next month.
Sarri spent one season at Chelsea in 2018-19, when he won the Europa League, finished third in the Premier League and reached the Carabao Cup final.
Before joining Chelsea he led hometown club Napoli to two second-place finishes in three years and was named Serie A manager of the year in 2016-17. He won the title with Juventus in 2019-20.