Manager Rangers interviewed before Mick Beale now tipped for Napoli job.
A year and a half after the Nice manager was interviewed for the Rangers position, Francesco Farioli is now the favorite to lead Napoli back to the top of Serie A.
Nice, once the “best of the rest” in Ligue 1 and now fighting for a European spot, may have suffered a little since the start of the year, but one of Europe’s most exciting young tacticians will still emerge from his first season in one of the “top five” leagues on the continent with a much enhanced reputation.
Nice, led by Francesco Farioli, 34, is currently only three points behind second place. Given that he had only previously served as a head coach in Turkish football, his appointment seemed risky, but it’s turning out to be one of the most brilliant decisions made during the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era on the French Riviera.
Rangers held talks with Francesco Farioli in 2022
In terms of Farioli, Rangers were therefore far ahead of the curve. The former Qatar Under-17 coach was questioned by Rangers long before he became well-known across the Channel (The Athletic).
After proving to be a huge success in France and being tipped to follow in Luciano Spalletti’s footsteps of winning the Scudetto at Napoli, one wonders where Rangers would have ended up if they had given Farioli the reins instead of the ill-fated Mick Beale when they let go of Giovanni van Bronckhorst in late 2022.
Lorenzo Del Pinto, who worked with Farioli at Benevento as an assistant to the now-Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi, tells Calciomercato, “He was a very, very humble and reserved boy.”
It was evident that he was very motivated to work and learn. He studied a lot of methods on his laptop for a long time. Hard work, which he puts in both on and off the field, is, in my opinion, his secret.
“I anticipate him performing exceptionally well at Napoli tactically since Napoli plays the 4-3-3.
“The Azzurri are going through a change in leadership. Furthermore, it’s not guaranteed that they can convey excellent football with Francesco Calzona. In any event, I believe Farioli is a good fit for the Neapolitan team.
“He would probably give his Napoli a lot of passion, just like Spalletti did.”
Napoli are the ‘right fit for Farioli’
Ibrox may have been Beale’s undoing. However, at least Philippe Clement, his “exceptionally consistent” successor, is making some effort to appease the ghosts of his predecessor’s tragic period.
Rangers, who have only won one Premiership title since returning to the top flight in 2016, are now two points ahead of Celtic going into this weekend’s round of fixtures after to Wednesday’s thrilling comeback against Kilmarnock.
Motherwell takes on the Gers on Saturday at 3pm at Ibrox.
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