FC Internazionale vs. Salernitana Trend Finder

Salernitana hires Liverani to replace Inzaghi as coach with the club hoping for another 'miracle'

Mon, Feb 12, 2024
Soccer News (AP)

SALERNO, Italy (AP) - Struggling Serie A club Salernitana is hoping for another "sporting miracle" after firing coach Filippo Inzaghi and replacing him with Fabio Liverani in the hopes of staving off relegation again.

It is the third coaching change of a troubled season for Salernitana, which is bottom of Serie A and five points from safety.

Even Salernitana general manager Walter Sabatini acknowledged at a news conference to present Liverani on Monday that, after the team's latest loss against Empoli, "our percentage chance of securing safety is 3.5 %."

But Salernitana has been in this position before.

READ MORE Messi vs. Mbappe on the global stage again? Argentina has qualified for the Paris Olympics PSG takes on Real Sociedad in the Champions League last 16. Another failure could see Mbappe leave Rock, paper or scissors? US striker wins pre-penalty contest before scoring in English league game

Two years ago, Davide Nicola - currently in charge at Empoli - became Salernitana's third coach of the season, with the team having spent most of the campaign rooted to the bottom of the table. However, he managed to pull off the great escape, with Salernitana recording 18 points in the remaining 15 matches to stay up

"I accepted this challenge because I see the quality in this team and I believe we can aim to get closer to those ahead of us," the 47-year-old Liverani said. "There was a sporting miracle in this city a couple of years ago and the stadium and the fans were an added value."

It couldn't be a tougher start for Liverani, with his first match in charge coming at league leader Inter Milan on Friday. That game would have pitted Inzaghi against his younger brother Simone Inzaghi, who is the Nerazzurri coach.

Inzaghi replaced Paulo Sousa in October but Friday's loss at home to fellow struggler Empoli was his 11th defeat in 18 matches in charge across all competitions - with just three wins during that period.

Salernitana did not specify the length of Liverani's contract.

"When a coach comes in in February or March, it is difficult to talk about what could happen at the end of the season," Liverani said. "I think the club chose me to do the best possible in these months, we'll see if we manage to achieve this little lunacy of saving ourselves and if both parties want, we'll continue."

Liverani last coached Cagliari in Serie B but was fired in December 2022 after a disappointing few months in charge. The former Lazio and Italy midfielder also coached Genoa, Leyton Orient, Ternana, Lecce and Parma.

It was the seventh coaching change in the Italian league this season.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/Soccer

"

Article Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.