Report: Former Napoli and Inter manager open to Celtic approach

By John McGinley

February 28, 2021

Former Inter Milan and Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri has told The Sunday Post he’d be open to discussions with Celtic regarding the vacant managerial post at the club.

The paper appears to have contacted both Mazzarri and Enzo Maresca in recent days to sound out their desire to fill the job at Celtic Park.

Maresca, through his agent, is said to have refused to confirm or deny speculation linking him with a switch to Scotland.

Mazzarri though sounds a little more interested.

No quotes are given directly from the 59-year-old but journalists Danny Stewart & Massimiliano Vitelli report in The Sunday Post: “More willing to discuss the Celtic job is his countryman Walter Mazzarri, the former Watford, Napoli and Inter Milan manager.

“Currently between jobs following a stint with Torino, he said he was available to listen to, and evaluate, any proposal from a club of their tradition and size.”

Who is Walter Mazzarri?

Mazzarri may not be a household name amongst Celtic supporters but he’s been a manager for 20 years, primarily in his homeland Italy.

He’s taken charge of many prominent clubs in the country including Sampdoria, Napoli, Inter and Torino.

His most stable spell came at Napoli between 2009 and 2013. He helped the Italian club to the Champions League group stages for the first time in 21 years back in 2011.

In 2012/13, he guided Napoli to a second-place finish in Serie A, their highest standing in over two decades.

Walter Mazzarri – another name to add to the Celtic speculation list / (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

A spell at Watford followed his Inter stint, where he ensured the Hornets survived relegation. His most recent job was at Torino, though he was dismissed last January.

It’s another name to add to the pile of speculation at least. Will anything come from it? Unlikely.

In other news, Celtic could be set for some promising Scottish Cup news next week.