Walter Mazzarri: Inter Milan appoint former Napoli coach

Inter Milan have appointed former Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri as their new head coach on a two-year contract.

Former Inter boss Andrea Stramaccioni, 37, was sacked after four defeats in their last five games led to a ninth-placed finish in Serie A.

Mazzarri, 51, left Napoli on Sunday after just under four seasons having guided them to second in the table.

The Naples club's president Aurelio De Laurentiis denied reports he has named Rafael Benitez as Mazzarri's successor.

Benitez, 53, is looking for a new job with his contract as Chelsea interim manager coming to an end following a season in which he led the Blues to Europa League success and a third-placed finish in the Premier League.

And there had been speculation the Spaniard had been lined up to succeed Mazzarri in Naples.

Confirming the former Napoli coach's arrival at the San Siro, a statement on Inter's website read: "FC Internazionale would like to announce that the club has appointed Walter Mazzarri as the new head coach.

"FC Internazionale would like to thank Andrea Stramaccioni for the great commitment and professionalism he showed in a particularly difficult year."