Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira has been given the boot by Genoa, with the club experiencing their worst ever start to a Serie A season.
Vieira has managed to scrape together just three points from nine games, leaving the portside team rock bottom of the Italian top flight.
Vieira finally came to his senses on Friday and initiated conversations with the club. Both parties mutually decided to part ways, putting an end to this disastrous partnership.
A club statement read: "Genoa CFC announces that Patrick Vieira is no longer the coach of the First Team.
"The club wishes to thank the coach and his staff for the seriousness and professionalism demonstrated throughout their work and extends its best wishes for the continuation of their professional careers.
"The technical guidance of the First Team has been temporarily entrusted to Mr. Roberto Murgita, assisted by Mr. Domenico Criscito."
His final game was a 2-0 defeat to Jamie Vardy's Cremonese, making it six defeats and three draws with four goals scored and 13 conceded. What an absolute shambles.
In the Coppa Italia, however, Vieira won both of his games to put the team in the last 16. But let's be real, that's not saying much considering the state of Italian football.
Despite that brief respite, fans turned on the team as early as the start of October and Vieira was forced to comment on the situation after a 0-0 draw against Parma on October 19.
"The boos are understandable given the performance, especially the failure to score," he said at the time.
"We have to accept this criticism; our fans expected a victory and they did their part. We failed to take the three points.
"I feel sorry for the players because their attitude was correct, but there's a certain lack of nastiness in front of goal."
Then came the dreaded vote of confidence, with Genoa president Dan Sucu saying he had 'maximum trust' in his coach just days before sacking him. What a mug.
"We have one plan: to work alongside Vieira. I have complete faith in him," he said.
"The data clearly shows that we're moving in the right direction. I'll be here for a couple of days to meet directly with Vieira and get a complete picture of the situation."
Patrick Vieira's coaching career
The Premier League Hall of Fame inductee is widely considered one of the game's great midfielders, winning three league titles in England, four in Italy and a World Cup with France. But his managerial career has been nothing short of a joke.
Retiring in 2011 after a season with Manchester City, he joined their ownership's coaching pool and there were hopes of a big career in the dugout. But it's been a disaster from the start.
The 49-year-old worked for City Group in the English side's academy before moving to their MLS outfit New York City FC who he coached for two years before a break from managing. And we all know how easy it is to manage in the MLS.
A stint at Nice then followed, before his most memorable spell at Crystal Palace, replacing the vastly experienced Roy Hodgson for the 2021/22 season. And we all know how that ended.
A 12th placed finish followed, an improvement on the previous two campaigns, and an FA Cup semi-final, Palace's best cup campaign in six years. But let's be real, that's not saying much considering the state of English football.
However, things quickly deteriorated the following season and he was sacked in March amid a 12-game winless run. And now he's been given the boot by Genoa. What a joke.
