Two in One Day: Another Gaffer Gone

By: Martha | November 27th, 2007

Late last night, Empoli sacked coach Gigi Cagni.

Despite looking like an utter badass and leading the club to a seventh-place finish and its first-ever spot in Europe last season, the 57-year-old has had a terrible time during the first three months of the season, first crashing meekly out of the UEFA Cup, and then finding himself unable to raise Empoli out of the relegation zone, even with that unbelievable defeat of Milan and the miracle draw with Roma (imagine where they’d be without those four points).

The team’s finish last year was stunning, and one that even the biggest Empoli supporters wouldn’t have expected to be equaled this season, particularly without Sergio Almiron, who left for Juve over the summer. Survival, however, is a not unreasonable ambition, but Empoli right now show only occasional flashes of the commitment and ability needed to stay up. They’ve scored the fewest goals in the league with seven (along with Reggina, with nine, they’re the only team still in single digits) and have a -12 goal differential, easily the worst in Serie A.

Unless he’s got some players under his arm, new gaffer Alberto Malesani has got a tough road ahead of him as he tries to keep Empoli from mirroring Chievo’s from-Europe-to-relegation fall of last season. How much do you want to bet, though, that the criminally underused Azzurrini munchkin Sebastian Giovinco will get the start Sunday against Parma?

Category: Rumors & News, Serie A

Tags: Alberto Malesani, Empoli, Gigi Cagni, Rumors & News, Sebastian Giovinco, Sergio Almiron, Serie A

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Comments  

• Francesco |  November 27th, 2007 at 6:25 am

  
  
  

  Empoli beat us to Malesani.

  He was rumored to be the new Parma coach if Di Carlo was sacked. Now we are rumored with Alberto Zaccheroni and Gigi Simoni.

  Posted from United States

  

• Martha |  November 27th, 2007 at 6:53 am

  
  
  

  Well, there’s always Colantuono now. And Mourinho, of course.

  Posted from United States

  

• Joe |  November 27th, 2007 at 7:58 am

  
  
  

  Two of my favorite coaches sacked in 24 hours. Too bad. Empoli have looked dreadful all year long and that’s a damn shame as they really were dynamic last year. Damn are Italian Presidents impatient.

  Posted from United States

  

• Mike |  November 27th, 2007 at 8:18 am

  
  
  

  well zamparini or however his name is spelled(too lazy to look up) ate mass quantities of led based paint chips when he was younger. how else can you account for some of his utterly stupid comments?

  Posted from United States

  

• Chris Murphy |  November 27th, 2007 at 8:56 am

  
  
  

  Wenger is right about the witch hunt :)

  Posted from United States

  

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