Inter fire Stramaccioni, hire Mazzarri

FC Internazionale Milano have sacked coach Andrea Stramaccioni after failing to qualify for Europe for the first time since 1999 and have appointed Walter Mazzarri, who resigned as SSC Napoli boss earlier in the week.

The coaching change comes at the end of a disappointing season in which Stramaccioni's Inter lost 16 times in Serie A, a club record, and finished ninth – missing out on European competition. Stramaccioni, 37, had been promoted from the youth system to the first team in March 2012 to succeed the fired Claudio Ranieri. He signed a three-year contract after leading the side to sixth place. However, his first full campaign at San Siro was much troubled, especially hampered by a long list of injuries to key players.

The 51-year-old Mazzarri, who has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Nerazzurri, left Napoli on Monday after guiding the Partenopei to second position. He had been in charge at the Stadio San Paolo since 2009, having previously coached Reggina Calcio and UC Sampdoria in Italy's top flight.