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Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira has been dismissed as Genoa head coach following a dismal run of results that left the club rooted to the bottom of Serie A.
The former Arsenal and France midfielder’s final game in charge came on Wednesday night, when his side suffered a 2-0 home defeat to newly promoted Cremonese. Federico Bonazzoli scored both goals to seal Genoa’s ninth consecutive match without a victory at the start of the league campaign.
In astatement confirming Vieira’s departure, the club announced: “Genoa CFC announces that Patrick Vieira is no longer the coach of the First Team. The club would like to thank the coach and his staff for the dedication and professionalism they have shown throughout their work and wishes them all the best for their future careers.
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“The technical leadership of the First Team has been entrusted on an interim basis to Mister Roberto Murgita, assisted by Mister Domenico Criscito,” the statement added. Genoa’s next fixture is away to Sassuolo on Monday.
Vieira’s dismissal comes just months after he penned a new contract with the Rossoblu during the summer, amid speculation linking him with a move to former club Inter Milan. Inter eventually appointed Vieira’s ex-teammate Christian Chivu as head coach after Simone Inzaghi departed for Al-Hilal.
Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira
Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira (Image credit: Getty Images)
Genoa had started their season on a positive note, defeating third-tier Vicenza 3-0 in the Coppa Italia and following that up with another victory over Serie B side Empoli. However, their league campaign quickly unraveled, with three draws, six defeats, and only four goals scored in nine matches, a record that ranks among the worst in Italy’s top flight.
Supporters voiced their frustration following the Cremonese loss, while Vieira faced questions about his future in the post-match press conference. “You ask me a question like this after a match? I understand it is your job, but this question makes no sense to me,” he said, as translated by Football Italia.
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“My worry is to try to find a way to win games. This is a difficult moment for all of us, and we must accept the criticism that comes our way. For the rest, we’ll see. Replying to this question now is not my style.”
The 49-year-old took charge of Genoa in November 2024, succeeding Alberto Gilardino with the team sitting 17th in the table. Vieira managed to steady the ship during the second half of the campaign, steering the club to a mid-table finish and earning a notable draw against title-chasing Napoli.
Before his stint in Italy, Vieira led Strasbourg to 13th place in Ligue 1 during his only full season in France. He also managed Crystal Palace in the Premier League, where he guided the Eagles to a 12th-place finish in his first year before being dismissed midway through his second campaign.
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