Patrick Vieira returns to Serie A as Genoa’s new head coach (PA Wire)
Patrick Vieira has become the new head coach of Genoa after the Serie A club sacked Alberto Gilardino.
Arsenal legend Vieira has been out of management since leaving Ligue 1 side Strasbourg in the summer.
Genoa, meanwhile, have endured a tough start to their Serie A season, winning just two of their 12 games under Gilardino.
The former AC Milan, Fiorentina and Italy striker became Genoa’s head coach in December 2022 and guided the team to promotion from Serie B to Serie A just five months later.
Genoa finished 11th in Serie A last season but six defeats in 12 league games has resulted in Gilardino being replaced.
Alberto Gilardino has been sacked by Genoa (Getty)
Strasbourg finished 12th in Ligue 1 last season under Vieira but the 48-year-old left by mutual consent in the summer due to disagreements with the club’s hierarchy over player recruitment and the selection of technical staff.
Vieira has also managed Manchester City’s development squad, New York City FC, Nice and Crystal Palace.
He was sacked by Palace in March last year following a run of 12 games without a win.
In his first season at Palace, Vieira guided the team to a 12th-placed finish in the Premier League and was praised for his side’s attacking style of play.
Vieira’s first game as Genoa’s new head coach will be against Cagliari on Sunday.
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