Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri has undergone a minor heart operation after being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, the Italian club has confirmed.
The 66-year-old is expected to return to his regular duties within the next few days, easing concerns over the health of one of European football’s most distinctive coaching figures.
Italian media reported the procedure was routine and precautionary, aimed at correcting an irregular heart rhythm rather than addressing a life-threatening condition.
Lazio said Sarri is recovering well and remains in close contact with his coaching staff as preparations continue for Sunday’s Serie A clash at home to Napoli.
Sarri was reappointed as Lazio head coach in June 2025, marking his second spell with the Rome-based club. His return was seen as a move toward stability after a period of inconsistency, with the club keen to re-establish a clear tactical identity under a manager renowned for his philosophy-driven approach.
Currently, Lazio sit eighth in Serie A, having won six of their 17 league matches so far this season. While that position falls short of the club’s ambitions, performances have shown signs of progress as Sarri continues to reshape the squad and reintroduce his methods.
News of Sarri’s operation has prompted an outpouring of support from fans and figures across Italian football, many of whom are familiar with the pressures and intensity he brings to his work. Known for his animated touchline presence and uncompromising footballing principles, Sarri has long been regarded as one of the game’s most meticulous tacticians.
His journey into elite management is one of the most unusual in modern football. Sarri began coaching while working as a banker, managing amateur and semi-professional sides in Italy’s lower divisions. It was only in the early 2000s that he quit his day job to focus entirely on coaching, a decision that would eventually lead him to the top of the European game.
Sarri’s breakthrough came at Empoli, where he guided the Tuscan club to promotion to Serie A in the 2013-14 season. His team’s bold, possession-based style caught widespread attention, earning him a move to Napoli, his hometown club.
At Napoli, Sarri built a side admired across Europe for its fluid passing and high-intensity pressing. Although he narrowly missed out on the Serie A title, finishing second twice in three seasons, his Napoli team is still remembered as one of the most entertaining in the club’s history.
That reputation took Sarri to the Premier League with Chelsea in 2018-19. Despite initial scepticism and adaptation challenges, he led the Blues to Europa League glory and a Carabao Cup final in his only season at Stamford Bridge, becoming the first Italian manager to win a major European trophy with an English club.
After returning to Italy, Sarri achieved the ultimate domestic prize by winning Serie A with Juventus in the 2019-20 campaign. At 61, he became the oldest manager to lift the Italian title, adding a unique footnote to his career.
His first stint at Lazio began in June 2021 and culminated in a second-place finish in the 2022-23 season, securing Champions League qualification. However, he resigned in March 2024, citing exhaustion and the need for a break, before returning to the club just over a year later.
Sunday’s fixture against Napoli carries added emotional weight for Sarri, given his deep connection to the club and city. While it remains unclear whether he will be present on the touchline, Lazio are confident his recovery will be swift.
For now, the focus is firmly on Sarri’s health. Lazio officials have stressed that the manager’s well-being takes priority, with football concerns secondary. If his recovery proceeds as expected, Sarri will soon be back, cigarette in hand and notebook close by, continuing a career defined by persistence, passion and an unwavering belief in his footballing ideals.
