1. Early life and background
Maurizio Sarri was born on 10 January 1959 in Naples, Italy. His father, Amerigo, was a former professional cyclist who worked as a crane operator at Italsider in the Bagnoli district of Naples. Although born in Naples, Sarri was raised in Castro (in the province of Bergamo) and later in Faella (in the municipality of Castelfranco Piandiscò, Arezzo), Tuscany. He developed a strong affinity for Tuscany, considering himself a Tuscan from the age of three. He completed his schooling in Figline Valdarno, where David Ermini was his deskmate.
1.1. Childhood and education
During his youth, Sarri pursued football at an amateur level, playing as a centre back for his local team in Figline. Despite his passion for the sport, he was unable to break into professional football, failing trials with prominent Italian clubs like Torino and Fiorentina. At the age of 19, he came close to signing with Montevarchi, but the deal collapsed due to Figline's demand for a 50.00 M ITL compensation. He later declined an offer from Pontedera and eventually retired from playing with Figline due to recurring injuries.
1.2. Banking career
Parallel to his amateur football pursuits, Sarri maintained a professional career as a banker. He worked for Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena in Tuscany, a role that saw him travel extensively across Europe, including stints in London, Zürich, and Luxembourg.
In 1990, at the age of 28, Sarri began his coaching career in Seconda Categoria while still working full-time at the bank. He maintained a rigorous schedule, typically working at the bank in the mornings and dedicating his afternoons and evenings to coaching and playing matches. This dual commitment continued until he secured a coaching position with the minor side Tegoleto. At this point, driven by his growing dedication to coaching, he made the significant decision to resign from his banking job to fully commit himself to his managerial career. Notably, during the 2000-01 season, while coaching Sansovino in the Italian sixth division, he famously declared that he would quit coaching if the team failed to win the league. He successfully met this challenge, leading Sansovino to triumph. During this period, he earned the nickname "Mister 33" for his meticulous preparation of 33 different set-piece variations.
2. Managerial career
2.1. Early career (1990-2012)
Maurizio Sarri's managerial journey began in 1990, coaching Stia in Seconda Categoria. The following year, he was appointed manager of fellow league team Faellese, successfully leading the club to promotion into the Promozione league. His early career saw him manage a succession of Italian lower league clubs. He coached Cavriglia from 1993 to 1996 and Antella from 1996 to 1998, guiding both teams to the Eccellenza division. In 1998, he was named manager of fellow league team Valdema but was dismissed the following January. He then took over Tegoleto in the same division in September 1999, managing them until June 2000.
In 2000, Sarri signed for Sansovino in Eccellenza, where he achieved promotion to Serie D in his inaugural season. He remained with Sansovino for two more seasons, leading them to the play-offs in his final year. His consistent success drew the attention of Serie C2 club Sangiovannese, whom he joined in 2003. He spent two seasons there, securing promotion to Serie C1 in his first campaign.
On 18 June 2005, Sarri resigned from Sangiovannese and, on 9 July 2005, took his first Serie B job at Pescara. He successfully steered the club away from relegation before departing on 30 June 2006. On 1 November of the same year, he was appointed at the helm of fellow second-division side Arezzo, replacing the sacked Antonio Conte. However, his tenure was short-lived, as he was relieved of his duties on 13 March 2007, with Conte returning to the position.
Sarri's subsequent stints were brief and challenging. On 18 July 2007, he joined Avellino in the second tier, but resigned on 23 August after severe altercations with the club's board. On 31 December, he replaced the fired Davide Pellegrini at the helm of Hellas Verona, but was himself sacked on 28 February 2008 after winning only one point during his six matches in charge. On 23 September 2008, Sarri was named Perugia manager, only to be dismissed on 15 February of the following year. He returned to coaching duties on 24 March 2010 with Grosseto. On 6 July of that year, Sarri was appointed manager of Alessandria in Lega Pro Prima Divisione, where he reached the promotion play-offs, being knocked out in the semifinals by Salernitana.
Sarri resigned from Alessandria on 24 June 2011, and on 6 July 2011, he was appointed at the helm of Sorrento. He coached the club through the first months of the season, earning praise for an attractive, slick brand of attacking football. Despite the club's position in sixth place, he was dismissed on 13 December.
2.2. Empoli (2012-2015)
On 25 June 2012, Maurizio Sarri was appointed head coach of Empoli, then in Serie B. His initial season saw challenges, with the team struggling with four draws and five losses in their first nine matches. However, Sarri's strategic insights led to the implementation of his preferred 4-3-1-2 formation, which would become a hallmark of his Empoli tenure. This tactical shift, along with the astute promotion of promising young talents like 18-year-old Elseid Hysaj, who became a regular starter, and the development of Riccardo Saponara as an attacking midfielder and Lorenzo Tonelli as a central defender, revitalized the squad. He also successfully rejuvenated veteran forwards Massimo Maccarone and Francesco Tavano and unearthed the potential of Mirko Valdifiori as a deep-lying playmaker. That season, Sarri guided Empoli to a fourth-place finish and the playoff final, though they ultimately lost to local rivals Livorno.
The following season, with the team further strengthened by players like Daniele Rugani, Mário Rui, and Simone Verdi, Empoli demonstrated consistent performance throughout the season, securing second place in the final table and earning direct promotion to Serie A after a six-year absence. For the 2014-15 Serie A season, Empoli faced a tough start, not securing their first victory until the sixth match against Palermo. Despite this, the team displayed remarkable resilience, recording the highest number of draws in the league (18) and achieving impressive home victories against formidable opponents like Lazio and Napoli. They successfully avoided relegation by finishing 15th, securing their top-flight status with a 1-0 away win against Torino in the 34th matchday. Following the conclusion of the season, Sarri resigned from his position.
2.3. Napoli (2015-2018)
On 11 June 2015, Maurizio Sarri took the helm at Napoli, the club of his birth city, replacing Rafael Benítez. In his first season, Sarri initially attempted to implement a 4-3-1-2 system, bringing in Mirko Valdifiori from Empoli as a deep-lying playmaker and Lorenzo Insigne as an attacking midfielder. However, after a challenging start with two draws and one loss in the opening three league matches, Sarri promptly adjusted his strategy. He transitioned to a 4-3-3 formation, deploying Jorginho as the anchor and restoring Insigne to his natural left-wing position. This change yielded immediate success, with Napoli achieving consecutive 5-0 victories against Club Brugge in the UEFA Europa League and Lazio in the league. This system became the consistent tactical foundation for his tenure.
Sarri masterfully re-established the team's balance, which had suffered under his predecessor. His meticulous focus on player positioning significantly enhanced the defensive capabilities, particularly for the backline led by Kalidou Koulibaly, and he found Marek Hamšík's optimal role in the left midfield. The most significant beneficiary of his system was forward Gonzalo Higuaín, who netted a remarkable 36 goals in Serie A, equalling the league's all-time record for a single season. Napoli's strong performance in the first half of the 2015-16 season, including wins against Juventus and Inter at home, earned them the "Campioni d'Inverno" (Winter Champions) title for the first time in 26 years. Despite accumulating 82 points, a club record for a 20-team league, Napoli ultimately finished second to Juventus after a crucial loss to them in the 25th matchday and subsequent draws.
For the 2016-17 season, following Higuaín's high-profile move to rivals Juventus and an injury to newly signed striker Arkadiusz Milik, Sarri demonstrated his adaptability. He controversially vetoed using the transfer funds for a direct replacement for Higuaín, instead opting to strengthen other positions and convert winger Dries Mertens into a false nine (a central forward dropping deep), which dramatically increased Mertens's goalscoring output. Napoli finished third in the league with 86 points, marking a second consecutive season of setting a new club points record, though they narrowly missed second place by one point to Roma. Sarri's achievements were recognized with individual accolades, including the Serie A Coach of the Year award and the Enzo Bearzot Award.
In the 2017-18 Serie A season, Napoli began in phenomenal form, setting a new club record of eight consecutive league victories. They remained undefeated in the league until December and then went on another impressive run of ten straight wins. They once again claimed the "Campioni d'Inverno" title. Despite a late surge that saw them reduce Juventus's lead to just one point after a 1-0 victory in their direct encounter in the 34th round, Napoli faltered in the subsequent matches, losing 3-0 to Fiorentina and drawing 2-2 with Torino. They ultimately finished second, four points behind Juventus, after amassing 91 points, the highest points tally in the club's history. On 23 May 2018, Sarri was replaced as head coach by Carlo Ancelotti.
2.4. Chelsea (2018-2019)
On 14 July 2018, Maurizio Sarri was appointed head coach of Chelsea, succeeding Antonio Conte who had been dismissed the previous day. This marked Sarri's first managerial role outside Italy. His first competitive match on 5 August saw Chelsea lose the 2018 FA Community Shield 2-0 to Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. However, he secured his first win a week later with a 3-0 league victory away to Huddersfield Town. Sarri made a strong start in the Premier League, becoming the first head coach to remain undefeated in his first 12 fixtures, before experiencing a 3-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur on 24 November.
Tactically, Sarri brought his signature possession-based, attacking style to Chelsea. He brought midfielder Jorginho with him from Napoli and deployed him as the deep-lying playmaker, while shifting N'Golo Kanté, typically a defensive midfielder, to a more advanced role in the right midfield. While initially successful, the team's form dipped in the middle of the season, highlighted by a significant 6-0 defeat to Manchester City on the 26th matchday, which raised concerns about team harmony and Sarri's future.
A notable controversy occurred during the 2019 EFL Cup Final against Manchester City. With the match goalless and heading for a penalty shootout, Sarri attempted to substitute goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for Willy Caballero, a goalkeeper known for his penalty-saving abilities. However, Arrizabalaga controversially refused to be substituted, leading to an irate Sarri nearly walking off the pitch, only to be held back by defender Antonio Rüdiger. Although both Sarri and Arrizabalaga later described the incident as a misunderstanding, with Sarri believing Kepa was injured and Kepa insisting he was fit to continue, the event exposed internal tensions within the team. Chelsea ultimately lost the shootout 3-4.
Despite these challenges, Chelsea's performance improved, and the team secured a third-place finish in the Premier League, guaranteeing qualification for the UEFA Champions League. On 29 May, Sarri achieved his first major trophy as a manager by leading Chelsea to a dominant 4-1 victory over Arsenal in the 2019 UEFA Europa League Final in Baku. Chelsea completed their Europa League campaign undefeated. At the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, Chelsea announced Sarri's departure to Juventus, citing his desire to be closer to his elderly parents in Italy. He was succeeded by Frank Lampard. Sarri later reflected on his year at Chelsea, noting that while there were initial conflicts, many players shed tears upon his departure, indicating an eventual strong bond.
2.5. Juventus (2019-2020)
On 16 June 2019, Juventus officially announced the appointment of Maurizio Sarri on a three-year contract. His move to the Turin-based club sparked strong criticism from his former Napoli supporters, who viewed it as a betrayal. In August 2019, Sarri was treated for pneumonia, which caused him to miss Juventus's first two matches of the 2019-20 season against Parma and Napoli.
Under Sarri's management, Juventus participated in the 2019 Supercoppa Italiana on 22 December, following their league title victory in the previous season, where they lost 3-1 against Lazio in Riyadh. On 17 June 2020, Juventus suffered a 4-2 penalty shootout defeat to Sarri's former club Napoli in the 2020 Coppa Italia Final, following a goalless draw. Despite these cup disappointments, Sarri successfully guided Juventus to their ninth consecutive Serie A title on 26 July 2020 with a 2-0 home win over Sampdoria. This marked his first major trophy in Italian football.
However, the team's style of play often lacked the dominant strength previously associated with Juventus, with struggles in adapting to the high-level zonal defense of Sarri's system and notable dropped points against lower-ranked teams in the latter half of the season. The league title was secured with only a one-point margin over second-placed Inter. The ultimate objective, the UEFA Champions League, remained elusive. On 8 August 2020, just one day after Juventus were eliminated from the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League in the round of 16 by Lyon on away goals (aggregate 2-2), Sarri was sacked by the club. This early Champions League exit, the club's worst performance in the competition in five years, was a key factor in his dismissal.
2.6. Lazio (2021-2024)
After a year-long sabbatical from management, Lazio announced the appointment of Maurizio Sarri as their new head coach on 9 June 2021, on a two-year contract. His debut on the bench occurred on 21 August with a 3-1 league victory against his former club, Empoli. In his first season, Lazio finished fifth in Serie A and were eliminated by Porto in the knockout phase of the 2021-22 UEFA Europa League. On 2 June 2022, his contract was extended for an additional two years, securing his position until 2025.
Sarri's second season at Lazio saw a significant improvement in the team's performance. He guided the Biancocelesti to an impressive second-place finish in the 2022-23 Serie A table, securing qualification for the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2020-21 season. However, in the 2022-23 UEFA Europa League, his team finished third in Group F and were subsequently eliminated by AZ in the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa Conference League. In his third season, he successfully led the club to reach the Champions League knockout phase. On 12 March 2024, Sarri resigned from his position as head coach, following a run of four consecutive losses in official matches, with the team sitting ninth in the league.
3. Playing style and philosophy
Maurizio Sarri is widely recognized for his unique and intelligent tactical approach, often characterized by meticulous attention to detail and extensive preparation during weekly training sessions.
3.1. Tactics
A cornerstone of his highly organized system is a four-man defensive line that maintains a high defensive line, employing an offside trap and a zonal marking system. Sarri demands synchronized movements from his defensive players, urging them to anticipate plays and primarily focus on the ball rather than their direct opponents. His teams are also known for their well-rehearsed set-piece plays.
Key tactical elements in Sarri's formations include the presence of a deep-lying playmaker-exemplified by players like Jorginho-who orchestrates play from in front of the defense. He also utilizes overlapping attacking full-backs to provide width, as his teams typically launch attacks from the flanks, emphasizing quick exchanges and runs into the box over frequent crosses. Consequently, he prefers dynamic wingers and also values defenders and goalkeepers who are adept with the ball, crucial for maintaining possession and implementing his high-pressing game. When defending without possession, Sarri's teams apply energetic pressing, maintain tight lines, and press high up the pitch to swiftly regain the ball.
Throughout his career, Sarri has employed various formations, including the 4-3-1-2 and 4-2-3-1. However, he became most renowned for his "free-flowing, possession-based 4-3-3 system" during his time at Napoli. A notable tactical adaptation occurred in the 2016-17 season; following the departure of Gonzalo Higuaín and an injury to Arkadiusz Milik, Sarri converted winger Dries Mertens into a false nine (a central forward dropping deep), which dramatically increased Mertens's goalscoring output.
Sarri earned his coaching diploma in 2006 from the Technical Centre of Coverciano, submitting a thesis titled "La preparazione settimanale della partita" (The weekly preparation of a match). He cites Arrigo Sacchi as a major influence on his coaching philosophy, and his assistant, Francesco Calzona, even authored a thesis solely on the calculated and precise movements of Sarri's defensive line to earn his UEFA Pro license. Beyond his tactical acumen, Sarri is known for his outspokenness and his distinctive matchday attire, typically opting for a tracksuit over a traditional suit. At Chelsea, he notably adopted a more relaxed approach to player diets and curfews compared to his predecessor, Antonio Conte, a shift that, combined with his offensive tactics, fostered a more positive team environment, earning praise from players like Antonio Rüdiger.
3.2. "Sarrismo" and reception
On the field, Maurizio Sarri's teams are renowned for their attractive, exciting, and attacking brand of football. This style is built on principles of retaining possession, fluid movement off the ball, and rapid, short passing sequences on the ground. This distinctive approach has been widely dubbed "Sarri-ball" or "liquid football" by the media, with French sports newspaper L'Équipe describing it as "vertical tiki-taka". The Italian encyclopedia Treccani even officially coined the term "Sarrismo" on 13 September 2018, defining it as Maurizio Sarri's offensive and spectacular football style, characterized by speed, an attacking mindset, and dynamic movement, particularly among forwards. Sarri is notably the first football coach to have a specific term for his playing style recognized in a national encyclopedia, a distinction even Pep Guardiola, associated with tiki-taka, does not hold.
Sarri is considered an "ideological son" of Arrigo Sacchi, the legendary AC Milan and Italy national team coach who challenged the traditional Catenaccio defensive philosophy. Like Sacchi, who also rose to prominence without a successful professional playing career (having been a shoe dealer), Sarri is an idealist dedicated to offensive football and is seen as having revolutionized Italian football with his dynamic and proactive approach.
His modern, innovative, and creative playing style, coupled with his teams' strong mentality, ability to execute quick counter-attacks, and prolific goal-scoring, has garnered significant praise from various pundits, players, and managers, including Pep Guardiola and Cesc Fàbregas. In 2018, Arrigo Sacchi himself lauded Sarri's Napoli side as "the most important thing seen in Italy in the last 20 years." During his time at Napoli, Sarri consistently led the team to top-three finishes in Serie A between 2015 and 2018, culminating in a club-record 91 points in the 2017-18 season. This success, combined with the aesthetically pleasing football, endeared him to Napoli supporters, who praised him for reviving the club's prominence and displaying beautiful football.
Despite receiving widespread acclaim for his tactical innovations, Sarri initially faced criticism from some in the sport for his perceived inability to win a major title, a narrative that changed with his Europa League victory with Chelsea in 2019. He has also been accused by media outlets of occasionally being stubborn and tactically inflexible. However, Sarri maintains that his core objective as a manager is to foster an enjoyable and competitive environment: "My goal is to have fun as long as I am here and be competitive in all competitions until the end. Ours is not a sport but a game, and anybody who plays a game starts doing that when they're young. It is fun. The child in each of us must be nurtured because this often makes us the best. I think if a team has fun often, the fans do too. This is very important, and then there are the high-level objectives, but we must start by having fun. This is important for us and our fans."
4. Personal life
Maurizio Sarri is well-known for his distinctive personal habits and casual approach to his profession. He is a heavy smoker, a trait so prominent that in 2018, RB Leipzig reportedly built a special smoking section within the locker-room area of their stadium specifically for him during a UEFA Europa League match. On the touchline, he is often seen chewing on cigarette butts.
Beyond football, Sarri is an avid reader, with a particular fondness for the works of authors such as Charles Bukowski, John Fante, and Mario Vargas Llosa. Aurelio De Laurentiis, the Napoli president, once commented on this, stating, "He reads books a lot, like me. That's wonderful."
In terms of attire, Sarri consistently wears a tracksuit during matches, a departure from the traditional suit favored by many other managers in Italian football. He has stated that he feels uncomfortable wearing a suit on the pitch. While his native language is Italian, he also speaks English, though he has occasionally used an interpreter during interviews in English. At Chelsea, he adopted a more relaxed approach to his players' diets and curfews before matches, contrasting with his predecessor Antonio Conte's more stringent regime. This, combined with his tactical shifts, contributed to a more positive and free team environment.
5. Controversies
Maurizio Sarri's career has been marked by several controversial incidents, for which he has often faced public scrutiny and disciplinary action.
During the 2015-16 season, on 20 January 2016, Sarri was involved in a heated exchange with then-Inter Milan head coach Roberto Mancini during the final minutes of a Coppa Italia match. Mancini accused Sarri of directing a homophobic slur at him. Sarri responded to the accusations by stating, "what happens on the field, stays on the field," and denied being homophobic. Subsequently, the Lega Serie A fined Sarri 20.00 K EUR and banned him for two Coppa Italia matches for "directing extremely insulting epithets at the coach of the opposing team." The president of Empoli, Fabrizio Corsi, defended Sarri, claiming the term used was a common Tuscan expression for a lucky opponent. Additionally, the newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport pointed out that Mancini himself had used similar language to insult a journalist in 2001.
In March 2018, Sarri again drew media criticism when he was accused of making sexist comments in response to female reporter Titti Improta of Canale 21, who had questioned whether Napoli's title challenge had been compromised. He later apologized for his remarks, adding that he had intended them as a joke.
When confronted about these incidents during his first press conference as Chelsea manager in 2018, Sarri expressed regret over his past behavior. He stated, "These were mistakes, that is for sure. I think that those who know me very well cannot define me in this way - not homophobic or sexist or racist, absolutely not. I am an extremely open person, and I do not have these kinds of problems, and I hope to show this when I work here and live here."
6. Managerial statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Cavriglia | 1993 | 1996 | 78 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 34.62 |
| Antella | 1996 | 1998 | 60 | 26 | 18 | 16 | 43.33 |
| Valdema | 1998 | 1999 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 29.41 |
| Tegoleto | 1 July 1999 | 30 June 2000 | 26 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 30.77 |
| Sansovino | 1 July 2000 | 30 June 2003 | 120 | 62 | 33 | 25 | 51.67 |
| Sangiovannese | 1 July 2003 | 18 June 2005 | 86 | 36 | 30 | 20 | 41.86 |
| Pescara | 9 July 2005 | 30 June 2006 | 43 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 32.56 |
| Arezzo | 31 October 2006 | 13 March 2007 | 22 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 27.27 |
| Avellino | 18 July 2007 | 23 August 2007 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Hellas Verona | 31 December 2007 | 28 February 2008 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.00 |
| Perugia | 23 September 2008 | 15 February 2009 | 22 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 31.82 |
| Grosseto | 24 March 2010 | 24 June 2010 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 18.18 |
| Alessandria | 6 July 2010 | 24 June 2011 | 39 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 41.03 |
| Sorrento | 6 July 2011 | 13 December 2011 | 19 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 42.11 |
| Empoli | 12 August 2012 | 31 May 2015 | 132 | 52 | 45 | 35 | 39.39 |
| Napoli | 12 June 2015 | 23 May 2018 | 148 | 98 | 25 | 25 | 66.22 |
| Chelsea | 14 July 2018 | 16 June 2019 | 63 | 39 | 13 | 11 | 61.90 |
| Juventus | 16 June 2019 | 8 August 2020 | 52 | 34 | 9 | 9 | 65.38 |
| Lazio | 9 June 2021 | 12 March 2024 | 139 | 67 | 30 | 42 | 48.20 |
| Total | 1083 | 506 | 302 | 275 | 46.72 | ||
7. Honours and achievements
Maurizio Sarri has achieved several significant honors throughout his managerial career, both with the clubs he has managed and through individual accolades.
Sansovino
- Coppa Italia Serie D: 2002-03
Empoli
- Serie B runner-up: 2013-14
Chelsea
- UEFA Europa League: 2018-19
- EFL Cup runner-up: 2018-19
Juventus
- Serie A: 2019-20
- Coppa Italia runner-up: 2019-20
- Supercoppa Italiana runner-up: 2019
Individual
- Panchina d'Argento: 2013-14
- Panchina d'Oro: 2015-16
- Enzo Bearzot Award: 2017
- Serie A Coach of the Year: 2016-17
- Serie A Coach of the Month: March 2023