With Bologna succumbing to a 2-0 defeat to bottom club Catania on Monday, it was only a matter of time before coach Stefano Pioli was shown the door. His side have slipped to within a point of the relegation zone, and the rossoblù have opted to make a change. A statement on their website read:
Stefano Pioli fired by struggling Bologna
After losing their relegation six-pointer to Catania in the last round of Serie A games, Bologna have fired coach Stefano Pioli.
Mario Carlini / Iguana Press
“Bologna FC 1909 announces that in light of recent disappointing results, the team has regretfully fired first-team coach Stefano Pioli. A sincere thanks to Pioli and his staff for their work over the years, conducted with great professionalism, passion and a rare care for our club. In the coming hours the new coach will be named.”
As the statement suggests, it's a sad parting of the ways for a well-liked coach. Pioli maintained the support of the fans to the end after spending just over a couple of years at the Renato dall'Ara, though this season -- with Bologna losing key players like Saphir Taïder and Alberto Gilardino -- the coach has been unable to maintain the solid results he's picked up previously.
Given that on paper they’ve got one of the worst squads in the league, it’s certainly not going to be an easy job for his successor.
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