Andrea Sottil becomes third Serie A coaching casualty as Udinese dismiss manager after nine-game winless run

Udinese Andrea Sottil has become the third head coach to be sacked in Serie A so far this season after he was dismissed on Tuesday.

It comes after Paolo Zanetti and Paulo Sousa parted ways with Empoli and Salernitana respectively in just over a month.

Sottil was appointed Udinese manager in June 2022, taking charge of 50 competitive matches during his spell at the club.

So far this season, the Serie A side have slumped to 18th in the league, just three points off the bottom, having failed to win any of their opening nine league matches.

On Monday, they continued their winless drought, drawing 1-1 against Lecce with Roberto Piccoli scoring a late equaliser to spell further concerns for Sottil’s side.

In light of their poor start to the 2023/24 campaign, Udinese announced on Tuesday that they would be parting ways with their manager.

A statement on the club’s website read: “Udinese Calcio announces that it has relieved Andrea Sottil of his duties as first team coach.

“Our heartfelt thanks go to the coach for the professionalism and commitment he has always shown and for the good moments we have experienced together in this year and a half in which he has led the team.

“Also leaving the club are his staff Gianluca Cristaldi, Salvatore Gentile, Jacopo Alberti and Eugenio Vassalle, whom the club thanks for their work.

“Thank you mister and good luck,” the statement added.

The 49-year-old got off to a bright start with Udinese, winning seven of his opening 10 matches in charge, claiming a huge 4-0 win against Roma and a 3-1 victory against Inter Milan helping the side finish 12th in the league table.

But his side’s form subsequently slumped, with Sottil going on to win another six matches, claiming just 13 victories during his time as Udinese boss.

According to

, Gabriele Cioffi is on the verge of being appointed as the side’s new coach.

Cioffi, who spent time with Torino and Spezia as a player, previously took charge of the club before Sottil was appointed in 2022, winning nine games in the 24 matches he oversaw.

He subsequently took up the manager's position at Verona but was let go by the club after a poor run of form that saw them suffer four consecutive defeats before he parted ways with the club.

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