GENOA, ITALY—Former Arsenal midfield icon Patrick Vieira has been sacked as the manager of Genoa, the Serie A club confirmed, following a disastrous start to the new campaign that has left the team at the bottom of the league standings.
The decision was made after Genoa suffered a 2-0 home defeat to newly-promoted Cremonese on Wednesday, extending the World Cup winner’s winless streak in the league to nine matches. Genoa had secured only three draws and suffered six defeats, with their tally of just four goals scored representing the joint-poorest attacking record in the division.
In an official statement, the club announced the immediate change in leadership. “Genoa CFC announces that Patrick Vieira is no longer the coach of the first team,” the statement read. “The club would like to thank the coach and his staff for the dedication and professionalism they have shown throughout their work and wishes them all the best for their future careers.”
Vieira’s final moments in charge included a tense post-match interview where he lost his cool with a reporter after being questioned about his position. “You ask me a question like this after a match? I understand it is your job, but this question makes no sense to me,” he responded. “My worry is to try to find a way to win games. This is a difficult moment for all of us, and we must accept the criticism that comes our way.”
Vieira, who took over in November 2024 and guided the club to a mid-table finish last season, had only just penned fresh terms with the Italian outfit over the summer. The technical leadership of the first team has been entrusted to Roberto Murgita on an interim basis.