Former Chelsea Manager Maurizio Sarri Rushed to Hospital After Sudden Illness During Lazio Training

Former Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri was rushed to hospital on Wednesday morning after falling ill during a pre-season training session with Italian side Lazio.

The 66-year-old, who managed Chelsea during the 2018–19 season, is now reported to be recovering well and has already returned to the club’s training base in Formello.

Sarri, a familiar figure to Blues supporters for leading the club to UEFA Europa League glory in 2019, reportedly suffered a “sudden illness” while supervising training drills in the sweltering Roman heat. Temperatures in the Italian capital are believed to have reached as high as 35°C at the time.

Following medical examinations, Lazio issued a statement confirming that Sarri had been cleared to return to his duties and would resume his usual schedule later in the day.

“Coach Sarri is returning to Formello and, as scheduled, will lead the training session at 6pm,” the club said. “This morning, he underwent a comprehensive medical check-up — even more thorough than the fitness assessments given to our players at the training centre.”

While local media have speculated that the extreme heat may have played a role in the health scare, Lazio have not disclosed an official diagnosis.

Sarri returned to Lazio last month following the departure of Marco Baroni, marking the beginning of his second spell in charge of the Rome-based outfit. He originally managed the club from 2021 until early 2024, stepping down to take a brief sabbatical from the game.

A seasoned figure in Italian football, Sarri made his name at Napoli, where his attacking style earned plaudits, before joining Chelsea in 2018. His time at Stamford Bridge was marked by a mixed relationship with both supporters and the media, yet he delivered European silverware and secured a third-place finish in the Premier League during his single season in charge.

After his departure from Chelsea, Sarri went on to lift the Serie A title with Juventus in 2020 before joining Lazio later that year.

His unconventional route to top-flight football remains one of the more remarkable managerial journeys in modern football. Having started out coaching in Italy’s lower leagues while working as a banker in Tuscany, Sarri eventually climbed his way to the elite level of European football.

To many Chelsea fans, he remains a unique and memorable figure — a manager who, despite challenges, left his own mark on the club’s modern history.