VERONA, Italy — In a decisive move reflecting the intense pressure of Italy’s top football division, last-placed Serie A club Hellas Verona has terminated the contract of head coach Paolo Zanetti. The dismissal was announced on Monday, merely 48 hours after the team suffered a demoralizing 4-0 defeat away to Cagliari.
The loss solidified Verona’s position at the very bottom of the league table, a point below fellow strugglers Pisa, who also possess 14 points from 23 matches. This coaching change is part of a broader trend of instability in the Italian top flight, bringing the total number of clubs that have changed managers this season to six.
Zanetti’s tenure was marked by profound difficulty, with the team securing only two league victories throughout the entire campaign. These wins, both achieved consecutively in December, provided a brief glimmer of hope in an otherwise dismal season. With 15 matches remaining in the season, the club now faces a formidable challenge, sitting four points adrift from the safety of the 17th-place position and potential salvation from relegation.
The managerial upheaval extends beyond Verona. Just one day prior, Pisa also parted ways with their coach, Alberto Girardino, highlighting the cutthroat nature of the league where poor results prompt immediate organizational action as clubs battle for survival.