Former Napoli coach claims he recommended Gasperini to De Laurentiis before Conte hiring

Former Napoli coach Edy Reja has revealed he once suggested Gian Piero Gasperini to club president Aurelio De Laurentiis before the appointment of Antonio Conte.

Speaking to Stile TV, via IlNapolista, Reja reflected on his time in Naples and his relationship with De Laurentiis, recalling both the challenges and the pride of his four-year spell at the club.

“I had a great time in Naples,” Reja said. “The fans were always close to us, even in difficult moments, the same kind Conte is experiencing now. Napoli has always been demanding, even when top of the table. When I was there, we had a good team, but if I compare my players from Serie B to today’s, Napoli now have international-level stars.”

Reja coached Napoli for four years and has a wealth of experience at Italian clubs: having coached the likes of Pescara, Verona, Bologna, Lecce, Brescia, Torino, Lazio, Genoa, Cagliari, Napoli and Atalanta.

Reja also revealed a behind-the-scenes detail about Gasperini: “I know him well: he was one of my former players. I recommended him to Atalanta and also mentioned him to De Laurentiis when he was looking for a coach. We spoke some time ago. The Roma side he’s coaching is starting to put his ideas into practice.”

He added warmly: “Aurelio called me on my birthday: he was the first one to do so. It made me really happy. I coached Napoli for five tough years, but it was a beautiful journey.”