De Rossi Appointed Genoa Manager Amid Relegation Struggles

GENOA, Italy (AP) — Former Roma captain Daniele De Rossi has been appointed as the new head coach of Genoa, the Serie A club announced on Thursday, following the dismissal of Patrick Vieira.

While Genoa did not disclose the length of the deal, Italian media reports suggest that De Rossi has signed a contract running until the end of the season.

The French coach was dismissed last week as pressure mounted, leaving the club fighting to avoid another relegation battle.

Interim coaches Roberto Murgita and Domenico Criscito briefly steadied the ship, guiding the team to a crucial first win of the season — a 2-1 victory over Sassuolo on Monday. That result lifted Genoa to 18th in the standings, one point clear of Hellas Verona and two above last-placed Fiorentina.

A fresh start for De Rossi

For De Rossi, 41, the Genoa appointment marks another chance to establish himself in Serie A management. The former Italy international — a 2006 World Cup winner — spent nearly two decades as a player at Roma, where he became a club legend for his leadership, tenacity, and loyalty.

After retiring in 2020, De Rossi began coaching in Serie B with SPAL in the 2022–2023 campaign. After stepping in for José Mourinho midway through Roma’s 2023–24 campaign, Daniele De Rossi’s managerial stint ended abruptly just nine months later, with his dismissal in September 2024. The former Roma captain is now in charge of a faltering Genoa team and has been given the challenge of saving them from certain death.

Genoa’s board is relying on his leadership and elite experience to instill confidence in a team that has been lacking it.

The Stadio Luigi Ferraris, where supporters are fervently hoping for a change, will be the centre of attention. De Rossi sees it as an opportunity to prove himself, rekindle his coaching career, and infuse Genoa with a spirit of perseverance they have sorely missed.