Serie A strugglers Salernitana on Wednesday fired coach Davide Nicola – for the second time in a month. Salernitana, just four points above the relegation zone, officially confirmed what Italian media had been reporting with a series of brief statements on their website.”U.S. Salernitana 1919 announces that it has relieved Mr. Davide Nicola of his duties as First Team coach.”In mid-January, Salernitana had announced Nicola was out after an 8-2 rout against Atalanta Bergamo. But owner, Danilo Iervolino, changed his mind and gave a reprieve to the coach who unexpectedly kept the club up last season. But they lost at Verona 1-0 on Monday. It wasn’t a happy return for Nicola.January 16: Davide Nicola sacked as Salernitana managerJanuary 18: Davide Nicola re-appointed as Salernitana managerFebruary 15: Davide Nicola sacked as Salernitana manager again, with ex Poland manager Paulo Sousa taking charge. pic.twitter.com/e857wrkJlZ— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) February 16, 2023 Salernitana quickly posted photos showing Paulo Sousa taking training earlier in the day.”U.S. Salernitana 1919 announces that it has reached an agreement with Mr. Paulo Sousa and entrusted him with the technical guidance of the first team.” ##NAJAVA_MECA_7023461##Sousa welcomed the return to Italy, where he spent two seasons in charge of Fiorentina between 2015 and 2017.”I am happy to be the new coach of Salernitana and to return to a country where I feel at home. With hard work, team spirit and the drive of the city we can overcome every challenge. With the courage and everyone’s compromise together with the passion of our fans, I’m sure we will experience joy. I can’t wait to play the first match and to be with the fans to show what Salernitana is made of.” SOUSA – PIATEK REUNITEUS Salernitana on Wednesday announced the hiring of Paulo Sousa, who is now tasked with guiding the team away from relegation.As a result, Krzysztof Piątek is the first Polish international to be reunited with the former selekcjoner❗️ 😮#SerieA pic.twitter.com/SRf21ag9eP— PSN Futbol (@PSN_Futbol) February 16, 2023 Nicola, another former Udinese manager who has also coached Genoa and Torino, took over at Salernitana last February. The team then took 18 points from their last 15 games and escaped relegation by one point. There was not to be a fairytale escape this time around. Nicola wrote another emotional letter to the Granata fans.”Even in the most beautiful stories there come moments to say goodbye, to go separate ways, knowing that those shoes worn while walking together will never be thrown away. I wish you to cry with joy again for yours, for our Salernitana.”Sousa, a 52-year-old Portuguese, played in the 1990s at Juventus and Inter Milan. Since leaving Serie A, he has managed Bordeaux, the Poland national team and Flamengo in Brazil.
