Genoa have confirmed the appointment of Daniele De Rossi as their new head coach following the dismissal of Patrick Vieira, as the Serie A club look to steer themselves away from the relegation zone.

Vieira was relieved of his duties after a dismal start to the season, with Genoa failing to win any of their opening nine league matches — recording three draws and six defeats to sit bottom of the Serie A standings.

Club legend Domenico Criscito temporarily took charge at the weekend, guiding the team to their first victory of the campaign — a 2-1 win away at Sassuolo — which lifted Genoa to 18th place, level on points with 17th-placed Pisa, who currently occupy the final safety position.

“Genoa CFC announces that Daniele De Rossi has been appointed head coach of the first team,” the club said in a statement.
“The new coach has already met with the players and will lead this afternoon’s training session at the Signorini Sports Centre.”

A Return to the Dugout for De Rossi

The 42-year-old De Rossi, a former Italy international and AS Roma icon, enjoyed a glittering playing career spanning nearly two decades with the Giallorossi.

He began his managerial career in earnest when he succeeded José Mourinho as Roma head coach in January 2024. During his brief tenure, De Rossi guided the club to a sixth-place finish in Serie A and the semi-finals of the Europa League, earning him a contract extension until 2027.

However, a poor start to the following season saw him dismissed in September after a run of winless games — his final match ironically coming in a 1-1 draw against Genoa.

Genoa’s Challenge Ahead

De Rossi’s immediate task will be to build on the momentum from Genoa’s recent win and pull the team clear of the relegation zone. His debut in the dugout will come this weekend as Genoa host Fiorentina, who are also enduring a turbulent period after sacking Stefano Pioli earlier this week following their own winless start to the season.

Genoa will hope that De Rossi’s leadership, passion, and Serie A experience can help revive their campaign and restore stability at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium.