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

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.”

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, gives the team instructions during the Serie A match between AC Milan and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Reja: ‘I recommended Gasperini to Napoli’

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.”

epa07913921 Albania’s head coach Edoardo Reja during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier Group H soccer match between Turkey and Albania in Istanbul, Turkey, 11 October 2019. EPA-EFE/ERDEM SAHIN

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.”