After a lengthy negotiation and some back and forth in previous months, Lazio management and Simone Inzaghi have decided to move forward together and open a new cycle as they agreed to a three-year extension that will run through June 2024, Corriere dello Sport and Gazzetta dello Sport reported today.
The two sides met twice over the last few days, on Thursday before the Derby and on Monday and, while they were originally discussing a shorter renewal, they have come to terms on a longer deal that at this point just need to officially announced, both outlets informed, adding that the final year could be an optional one. The gaffer will get a pay raise and will make around €2.5M per season plus bonuses tied to the results, especially to the qualification to Champions League. There was no mention of a possible release clause.
If he does stay for entirety of the new contract, Inzaghi will be second longest-tenured manager in club’s history, although he still pretty far from the record-holder Guido Baccani, who led the team from 1906 to 1924. The former striker is already the one with most appearances (227) on the Biancocelesti bench.
Inzaghi first arrived in 1999 to play under Sven Goran Eriksson, then, once he retired, he climbed through ranks of the youth system until he was appointed to guide the first team in 2016. He won two Supercoppe Italiane and one Coppa Italia at the helm and recently reached their first qualification to the second stage of Champions League in 20 years.