Pointless after six games, Venezia turn to survival specialist Davide Nicola
Davide Nicola has taken over last-placed Serie A side Venezia after Giovanni Stroppa was fired. The coach, known for relegation rescues, has signed through June 2028.
Archive image · Photo: Sandrino 14 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Venezia have hired Davide Nicola as their new coach on a contract through June 2028, and he brings his own staff. Nicola replaces Giovanni Stroppa, who was fired after losing all six of the team's opening Serie A games, most recently 3-1 to Atalanta. Venezia are bottom of the table.
Nicola has coached Crotone, Genoa, Torino, Salernitana and Empoli, among others, and is regarded in Italy as a relegation specialist; most recently he was at Cremonese until March 2026. "I chose Venezia because I see a long-term vision at this club," he said.
The task is daunting: according to Sky TG24, no team has ever avoided relegation after taking zero points from six games. Venezia are already the fourth Serie A club to change coaches this season, after Fiorentina, Bologna and Parma, something that had not happened after six rounds since 2000, according to Sky Sport (Opta). Napoli are next.