Inzaghi steps down as Lazio boss ahead of expected Inter appointment

By Sports Desk May 27, 2021

Simone Inzaghi has stepped down as head coach of Lazio amid strong links with the vacant Inter job.

The 45-year-old has spent his entire five-year managerial career at Stadio Olimpico, where he also enjoyed 11 years of service during his playing days.

Inzaghi guided Lazio to Coppa Italia success in 2018-19 and a couple of Supercoppa Italiana triumphs in 2017 and 2019, as well as ending the club's 13-year wait for Champions League qualification.

He had been widely expected to extend his contract with the Biancocelesti, which is due to expire at the end of next month, but it has now been confirmed the former Italy international is leaving the club.

Lazio released a statement on their official website on Thursday but did not refer to Inzaghi by name.

"We respect the change of mind of a coach and, before that, of a player who for many years tied his name to the Lazio family and the many Biancocelesti successes," the statement read.

Inzaghi, who was previously touted as a contender for the Tottenham job, won 108, drew 35 and lost 55 of his 198 matches in charge of Lazio.

Reports from Italy suggest Inter are close to agreeing a deal with Inzaghi to succeed Antonio Conte, who left San Siro by mutual consent on Wednesday just a month on from ending the Nerazzurri's 11-year Scudetto wait.

Conte's departure came amid a reported dispute between the coach and the club's owners over salary cuts and player sales, with Inter reportedly looking to raise €100million to help balance the books.

Related items

  • Object thrown at City striker 'Bunny' Shaw in Champions League win over Hammarby sparks UEFA investigation Object thrown at City striker 'Bunny' Shaw in Champions League win over Hammarby sparks UEFA investigation

    UEFA has opened an investigation after Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw was hit by an object during their Women’s Champions League win against Swedish side Hammarby on Thursday.

    The towering Jamaican striker scored both goals in City’s 2-1 win at the Stockholm Arena to see her side through to the quarterfinal stage.

    Her animated celebration in front of the home fans after her first goal saw the 27-year-old being booked, with replays also showing an object seemingly thrown her way from the stands.

    “Proceedings have been opened against Hammarby IF for throwing of objects (Article 16(2)(b) of the Disciplinary Regulations),” UEFA said in a statement.

    “Manchester City player Khadija Shaw received a yellow card following her goal presentation for unsporting conduct,” the statement added.

    Following the game, City captain Alex Greenwood chided match broadcaster DAZN for failing to mention the incident in a social media post.

    The post on X, external said Shaw “antagonised” the home fans and received “stick” from them.

    Greenwood replied, "Correction. Travel to Stockholm, score a big goal. Celebrates her goal. Gets objects thrown at her.”

  • Flick: Barcelona need to learn how to win without Yamal Flick: Barcelona need to learn how to win without Yamal

    Hansi Flick has urged Barcelona to find a way to win without the absent Lamine Yamal, as he misses a second consecutive match with an ankle injury.

    The 17-year-old missed their 1-0 loss at Real Sociedad which halted Barca's seven-match winning streak in all competitions before the international break.

    Yamal has only missed two LaLiga matches since the start of last season, while Barcelona have lost both games this campaign in which he has not started, after coming off the bench in a 4-2 loss to Osasuna in September.

    Flick said that his players need to show that they can win without their teenage sensation.

    "Tomorrow I will put the question to the team, it will be a very good question for them [if they can win without Yamal]," Flick told a press conference on Friday.

    "Against Real Sociedad, we didn't play well, and it wasn't because of Lamine's absence. He is a very important player for us, but we have options to also play well without him.

    "He won't be able to play tomorrow, we don't know when he will be able to go back from his injury, but what is clear for me is that we want him to be back only when he is 100% recovered."

    Yamal played a big role in Spain's European Championship title win earlier this year in Germany, winning the best goal and the Young Player of the Tournament award in his breakthrough campaign.

    He continued to thrive this season with five goals and seven assists to help Barca to the top of the LaLiga standings on 33 points, six ahead of rivals Real Madrid, who have a game in hand in second place.

    Yamal is also the only player across Europe's big five leagues to complete 25+ dribbles (34), create 25+ chances (26), have 25+ shots (39), score 5+ goals (five) and provide 5+ assists (seven).

    Flick suggested that he may have to adjust his system, as it is hard to replace a player with such a mixture of speed, technique and finishing.

    "We might be a bit limited by the absence of Lamine," Flick said.

    "But we have a lot of players with great quality, and they can play in different positions. We'll see what we'll need and we'll design the game plan.

    "It's always important after the international break to come back strong and with confidence. That's our goal for tomorrow."

  • Moca FC's  Baez, Correa sanctioned by Concacaf Disciplinary Committee for violent conduct in Carib Cup semis clash against Cavalier Moca FC's Baez, Correa sanctioned by Concacaf Disciplinary Committee for violent conduct in Carib Cup semis clash against Cavalier

    The Concacaf Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned players Miguel Baez and Jesus Correa of Dominican Republic club Moca FC for incidents that occurred during their Concacaf Caribbean Cup second-leg semi-final match against Jamaica’s Cavalier FC on Thursday, October 30. 

    After considering the documentation and evidence gathered during its investigation and based on the competition regulations and the applicable disciplinary code, the Disciplinary Committee has imposed Miguel Baez a six-match suspension and Jesus Correa a three-match suspension for violent conduct.

    The sanctions include the automatic one-match suspension for the on-field direct red cards given to each player during that 7-0 beating in Kingston.

    Both Baez and Correa must serve their suspensions during the upcoming 2024 Concacaf Caribbean Cup third-place matches and future editions of the competition. 

    Moca FC is scheduled to meet Haiti's Real Hope FC in that home-and-away tie on November 26 and December 3 to determine the next Caribbean representative that will contest next year's Concacaf Champions Cup. Finalists Cavalier and Cibao FC, also of the Dominican Republic, have secured automatic berths.

    Meanwhile, the Disciplinary Committee has also warned the players and the club that more severe sanctions could be taken should incidents occur during future matches.

     

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.