Baroni steps down as Lazio coach

Marco Baroni has stepped down as Lazio coach after failing to obtain European football for next season, the Serie A club's sporting director revealed on Friday.

Baroni leaves after taking Lazio to seventh in his single season in charge, having dropped out of the European places on the final day of the season with a home defeat to Lecce.

"Baroni has decided for personal reasons to leave," Angelo Fabiani told Rome-based newspaper Il Messaggero.

"We had a good season and were in contention for Champions League qualification until the final day of the season."

Fabiani added that Lazio were committed to strengthening the squad even without the extra earnings from continental competition.

Baroni took over in summer 2024 after Lazio went through three coaches last season: Maurizio Sarri, Giovanni Martusciello and Igor Tudor.

Italian media report that Sarri, who hasn't coached since leaving Lazio in March last year, could return to the their dugout as a replacement for Baroni.