Spezia are the final Serie A team to announce their coach for 2022/2023, as they have formally hired Luca Gotti. He has signed a two-year contract. He succeeds Thiago Motta, who came to terms for his release earlier this week.
The new gaffer was fired by Udinese last December after two successful campaigns at the helm. They got off to an underwhelming start, registering 3 wins, 7 draws and 6 losses in the first 16 matchdays. The Friuliani elevated his assistant Gabriele Cioffi to replace him. He had taken over the job in the same fashion in 2019, as he was previously Igor Tudor’s right-hand man.
Spezia become the seventh team coached by Luca Gotti in his career, and his second Serie A one. He spent ten years as an assistant, helping Roberto Donadoni in three different stops and then Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea. He finished 13th and 14th in his first two turns in Friuli.
Despite avoiding relegation, the Aquilotti parted ways with Motta over irreconcilable divergences with the management, in particular director Riccardo Pecini, La Nazione reports. The former Azzurri midfielder was Leonardo’s top choice to replace Mauricio Pochettino on PSG’s bench, according to Le Parisien. Obviously, the plan went pear-shaped due to the ousting of the Brazilian executive.
Spezia had chosen the up-and-comer late last summer after Fiorentina poached Vincenzo Italiano following the Gennaro Gattusa saga. The Bianconeri will be able to operate in the transfer market in the ongoing window. FIFA lifted the ban stemming from violations of their previous ownership.