Fiorentina have appointed Gennaro Gattuso as their new manager following his departure from Napoli after a year-and-a-half at the club.

Gattuso, who led Napoli to a fifth-place finish in the 2020-21 Serie A season, is believed to have signed a two-year deal at Fiorentina.

Gattuso’s Napoli exit was announced by club owner Aurelio de Laurentiis on Twitter on Sunday after a 1-1 draw against Hellas Verona.

‘Dear Rino, I am happy to have spent almost two seasons with you. Thank you for your work and I wish you success wherever you go. A hug also to your wife and children,’ De Laurentiis wrote after the match.

Gattuso’s Napoli contract was set to expire in June. Fiorentina, meanwhile, finished down in 13th position.

He will take over as Fiorentina boss from July 1, with club President Rocco Commisso confirming the news on the club’s website.

Fiorentina President Rocco Commisso is ‘convinced that Gennaro Gattuso will help us to progress’ and guarantees ‘determination, competence and desire to win.’

“I’m very happy to be able to announce to the Viola fans that Gennaro Gattuso will be the next Fiorentina coach,” President Commisso told the official club website.

“I’m convinced that Gattuso – who is a young coach but already has lots of experience – will help us to progress. His professional and personal background shows that he will bring determination, competence and desire to our club.

“He will help us in our growth and his professional and human history represent for the club an important guarantee of determination, competence and desire to win.

“I would like to thank the senior management team for their hard work in completing such an important appointment for the future of our club within days of the season finishing.”

Gattuso succeeded Carlo Ancelotti as Napoli coach in December 2019 and led them to Coppa Italia glory in June 2020.

Before coaching at Napoli, Gattuso had a spell as Milan boss – the club that he also represented in his playing days.

He took the job in 2017, stepping up from the youth team to replace Vincenzo Montella. Gattuso lasted until May 2019, leaving the club after failing to guide them into the Champions League – similarly to his time at Napoli.

Gattuso represented Italy 73 times in his playing days as a midfielder, winning the 2006 World Cup.