Maurizio Sarri Returns to Lazio - 15 Months After His Last Cigarette in Rome
Lazio have officially confirmed the sensational return of Maurizio Sarri as head coach — just 15 months after his initial departure from the Roman club.
The 65-year-old tactician replaces Marco Baroni and signs a two-year contract with an option to extend for a further 12 months.
Sarri originally spent three seasons in Rome before being dismissed in the final months of the 2023–24 campaign following a run of four consecutive defeats. He was succeeded by Igor Tudor, who is now in charge of Juventus — though Tudor himself resigned from Lazio only months into his tenure.
Baroni was brought in to stabilize the situation, but despite a promising start, his side collapsed dramatically in the final match of the season, paving the way for Sarri’s dramatic return.
In classic Lazio fashion, the club used a cloud of cigarette smoke in their promotional video to tease Sarri’s comeback — a cheeky nod to the coach’s iconic touchline habit and old-school persona.
