Coach-eating president Maurizio Zamparini's tricks have finally caught up with him, with no amount of hirings and firings this season able to save Palermo. Zamparini sacked incumbent coach Giuseppe Sannino just three games into the season, replacing him with Gian Piero Gasperini. He couldn't turn things around, and was replaced by Alberto Malesani in February. Three weeks later, Malesani was fired and Gasperini returned, though was refired two games later and Sannino was brought back. Phew.
Palermo’s relegation from Serie A confirmed
Palermo had to better Genoa’s result to give themselves a chance of survival in Serie A going into the final round. Sadly, their 1-0 loss to Fiorentina means they are sent into Serie B with a game to play.
Despite a late rally under Sannino, it wasn't enough for a side that has never adequately replaced the players they've sold over recent seasons. Javier Pastore, Salvatore Sirigu, Antonio Nocerino and Edinson Cavani are just a selection of rosanero stars who've departed in the last few years, culminating in the downfall of a team that has been in Serie A since 2004.
It's hard to know what comes next for Palermo, with obvious questions to be asked about the future of their coach. Even if the talented Sannino is kept on by Zamparini, he may well be subject to interest from bigger clubs. As for the squad; the aquile still have a core of good players, including Josip Iličić, Fabrizio Miccoli and Abel Hernández. But, with their stars almost certainly going to be chasing moves elsewhere, Palermo's squad could be decimated even further.
It is an uncertain future for the Sicilians.
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