Lazio faces Napoli with coaches in spotlight
Maurizio Sarri has not been given any assurances over his future with Lazio after a "devastating" season, with reports now linking him with a return to Napoli, his opponent this weekend.
Napoli and Lazio face off in Serie A on Sunday (AEST), with the hosts looking to tighten their grip on second place and avoid losing further ground on champion-elect Inter Milan.
Lazio, meanwhile, is down in 10th place, nine points adrift of the top seven and highly unlikely to be playing in Europe next campaign.
While the Biancocelesti have had their fair share of injury problems this season, their position has seen Sarri's future called into question, having only returned for a second spell at Stadio Olimpico last June.
There have also been suggestions he could be on Napoli's shortlist if Antonio Conte decides to leave the 2024-2025 Scudetto winner, with a return to the Italy dugout mooted for him.
Sarri previously coached Napoli between 2015 and 2018, winning 79 of his 114 Serie A matches at the helm.
His 69 per cent win rate is the highest of any coach in its history in the competition, just ahead of Luciano Spalletti's 68 per cent, but Sarri fell short of delivering the Scudetto.
Lazio suffered a demoralising 1-0 defeat at Fiorentina in its most recent Serie A match, and afterwards, Sarri admitted his future was out of his hands.
"I am not worried about my future. For Lazio, we'll see what the plans are," he said.
"I honestly don't know what the plans are for the future. I can only say this season has been devastating for me.
"There have been many problems this season. We'll see what the club has in mind for the future, and then we'll see what I think as a consequence of that."
Conte reportedly remains a top target for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), as it seeks a replacement for Gennaro Gattuso after failing to qualify for a third straight FIFA World Cup.
Napoli's most recent game was a 1-1 draw at Parma, with Scott McTominay's equaliser on the hour cancelling out a first-minute opener from Gabriel Strefazza.
