What is Sarriball?

Out of all the managers in European football, few have had a more improbable, unexpected rise to the top than Maurizio Sarri. He never played at the professional level, he split his time between working as a banker and playing and managing an amateur side, but in 1999, he quit his day job and dedicated himself fully to coaching. Sarri worked his way up the Italian pyramid before getting his first big break at 56 years of age, replacing Rafa Benítez as Napoli manager.

It was there at Napoli -- the city of his birth -- where Sarri became a ubiquitous name amongst football fans. From 2015 to 2018, Sarri's Napoli became widely recognized for its unique style of play predicated upon verticality in possession, high-tempo passing, and circuit-based football. His team typically utilised third-man runs to either draw defenders out of position, provide a clear option for progression, or break through the opposition's defensive block.

Whilst his subsequent spells at Chelsea and Juventus have proved to be far less fruitful, it's only a matter of time before he gets his next opportunity at the top level. Let's take a look at the core principles that have underpinned Sarri's style of play and the common characteristics that comprise 'Sarriball.'

Verticality in moving through the thirds