Massimiliano Allegri has officially been appointed as Napoli head coach, signing a three-year contract that runs until June 2029. The Italian takes over from Antonio Conte following a protracted exit from AC Milan that required several weeks of negotiations to resolve.
Napoli confirmed the appointment on Thursday morning, welcoming the 58-year-old to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The club announced that Allegri had penned a deal until 30 June 2029, securing a high-profile replacement after Conte departed the reigning champions.
Milan departure finally resolved
Allegri’s move to Napoli was delayed by complications surrounding his formal exit from Milan, where he had returned to the dugout only last summer. The Rossoneri dismissed Allegri the day after the season concluded, with the team having finished fifth in Serie A and missed out on Champions League qualification.
Although sacked over a month ago, Allegri required a mutual consent agreement to terminate his existing contract formally. Talks with Milan proved protracted amid a mass clear-out at San Siro that also saw director of sport Igli Tare, technical director Geoffrey Moncada and CEO Giorgio Furlani leave their positions.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis had already reached a verbal agreement with Allegri to succeed Conte, but the coach could only finalise the move once his Milan situation was settled.
Proven domestic pedigree
Allegri arrives in Naples with substantial experience at Italy’s biggest clubs. He previously managed Milan between 2010 and 2014, winning the Scudetto and the Italian Super Cup during his first spell. He then enjoyed a trophy-laden tenure with Juventus from 2014 to 2019, securing five consecutive league titles, four Coppa Italia trophies and two Italian Super Cups.
During his first Juventus stint, he led the Bianconeri to two Champions League finals. After a two-year hiatus from management, he returned to Turin in 2021 and added a fifth Coppa Italia in 2024 before departing. His second spell at Milan lasted only the 2025-26 season.
Earlier in his career, Allegri guided Sassuolo to their first-ever promotion to Serie B in 2008 and won the Serie C1 Super Cup. He also managed Cagliari, finishing ninth in his debut Serie A campaign and earning the Panchina d’Oro award for his efforts.
Replacing Conte
Allegri steps into the role vacated by Antonio Conte, who left Napoli after two years having delivered the Scudetto and the Supercoppa Italiana. The new coach faces the immediate challenge of maintaining those domestic standards while preparing the squad for the upcoming campaign.
The appointment marks Allegri’s return to the Naples dugout, where he briefly played during the 1997-98 season. He will now begin working with the reigning Italian champions as they look to defend their Serie A crown under new leadership.