Davide won’t walk to see the Pope, but he will remain Granata’s hero for two more years. That was the headline we published in June last year when charismatic coach Davide Nicola signed a new contract with Serie A side Salernitana. But the headline was a lie. Davide is gone.Salernitana manager Davide Nicola took off his shoe and threw it in anger at his team’s defending 😂Amazing. pic.twitter.com/LIa72UmLhL— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 24, 2022 The club from Salerno sensationally stayed in the league last season, but the so-called second-season syndrome has really gotten to them. Not even Mexican goalie Guillermo Ochoa could save them on Sunday evening at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia in Bergamo – he was beaten eight times in 90 minutes. Salernitana have been struggling for some time, collecting just two points in the last six games. The fans have lost their patience and chanted their protest at the team and Nicola in the last few games. They also put a protest banner on the door of the club’s Mary Rosy training centre. To top it all off, harsh words were exchanged at the airport last night as the team was about to board the flight home from Bergamo. ##NAJAVA_MECA_6945032##After the humiliating 8-2 defeat at Atalanta, the club directors had a night to think things over before making the tough decision to sack their miracle maker.Granata owner Danilo Iervolino and sporting director Morgan De Sanctis didn’t like Nicola’s comments regarding the poor transfer window and the club’s failure to bring in reinforcements. It looks like the coach was living on borrowed time despite his last season’s heroics. Such is modern football. Too cruel.Just a few minutes after the official release, Davide Nicola said goodbye to the club with a photo on his Twitter profile. No words, just an image of him on the field while applauding the audience in the stands of the Stadio Arechi.pic.twitter.com/Tw464U6sks— Davide Nicola (@DavideNicolaOff) January 16, 2023 According to Gianluca Di Marzio, candidates for the Granata bench are Roberto D’Aversa, the former Sampdoria coach and Eusebio di Francesco, the former Sassuolo, Roma, Sampdoria, Cagliari and Verona tactician.
