Genoa appoints Daniele De Rossi as head coach to halt relegation bid

Genoa appointed former Roma captain Daniele De Rossi as head coach on Thursday as the club seeks to arrest a slide toward relegation from Serie A. The 42 year old signed a short term deal that runs through the end of the 2025-26 season with an option to extend if Genoa retain topflight status, the club said, and he is due to lead his first training session ahead of Sunday’s match against Fiorentina.

"Genoa CFC announces that it has entrusted Daniele De Rossi with the technical leadership of the first team," the club said on its website, adding that De Rossi has already met the players and will speak to the media on Friday. Italian reports also said the contract includes a conditional renewal and put his salary for the remainder of the campaign at about 800,000 euros.

De Rossi replaces Patrick Vieira, who was dismissed last week after a winless start to the season. Genoa had gone nine league matches without a victory before interim coaches Roberto Murgita and Domenico Criscito guided the side to a 2-1 win over Sassuolo on Monday. That victory moved Genoa to 18th place, on six points from 10 matches, one spot above the relegation zone.

A longtime Roma midfielder who won the 2006...