LONDON: Rafael Benitez said yesterday that he was “extremely excited” about his appointment as coach of Napoli, vowing to respect the club’s traditions and “very, very special” supporters.
The 53-year-old Spaniard has signed a two-year contract with the Italian club and succeeds Walter Mazzarri, who has joined one of Benitez’s former clubs, Inter Milan.
Benitez will arrive in southern Italy after a successful but testing season as interim manager of Chelsea.
He faced opposition from the club’s fans following his appointment in November, but led the club to Europa League glory and a third-place finish in the Premier League.
Napoli finished second in Serie A this season, their best finish since a side featuring Diego Maradona won the Italian title in 1990, and Benitez said he was confident of taking the club forward.
“Now that the agreement is confirmed, I can say I am very happy and very satisfied for having committed to a great club with an illustrious heritage like Napoli,” he wrote on his official website, www.rafabenitez.com.
“I understand the history of the city and how the club forms a fundamental part of the culture and traditions of Naples.
“I must confess that I am extremely excited because I can share my passion for football with the fans of Napoli; it is proven that they are very, very special. I look forward to experiencing each and every one of the fans of Napoli and their strong support for this project that we will begin.” REUTERS
