Genoa dismiss Patrick Vieira after the worst start in club history, appoint Roberto Murgita with Domenico Criscito as interim staff, and face Sassuolo on Monday in a crucial test for immediate stabilization and long term planning.
Former French international Patrick Vieira was dismissed on Saturday from his position as Genoa head coach, with the club in twentieth place in Serie A and at the bottom of the table.
The announcement confirmed that Roberto Murgita will act as interim head coach, with club legend Domenico Criscito as his assistant, while the board evaluates longer term options.
The decision arrives after a sequence of nine league matches with no victories. Genoa collected only three points from three draws and suffered six defeats, which constitutes the worst start to a season in the club’s long history. Results of this magnitude inevitably increase pressure in a city that lives football intensely, and the board moved quickly to halt the slide before the campaign reaches its decisive winter phase.
Vieira’s tenure had begun with optimism. The 1998 World Cup winner brought international pedigree and experience from previous roles at New York City FC, Nice, and Crystal Palace. Supporters hoped his emphasis on athletic pressing, vertical transitions, and midfield control would modernize Genoa’s approach. The project never settled. Performances fluctuated, the team struggled to convert chances, and defensive lapses repeatedly undid promising spells of play. The inability to control key moments, particularly late in matches, proved costly and eroded confidence.
The sporting context amplifies the urgency. Survival in Serie A often hinges on maintaining contact with the pack above the relegation zone through autumn, then reinforcing wisely in January. With the tenth round now at hand, Genoa face a delicate balance between short term pragmatism and the need to protect medium term identity. The interim team will likely prioritize compactness without the ball, clearer roles in midfield to protect the back line, and more direct patterns to feed the striker quickly when possession is regained.
Roberto Murgita steps in as a steady internal figure, familiar with the training ground and the players’ profiles. His presence, together with Domenico Criscito, is intended to stabilize the dressing room, simplify the game model, and restore baseline competitiveness. Expect a sharper focus on set plays, a tighter defensive block in the central corridor, and an emphasis on first and second balls in the middle third. Small structural adjustments of this kind can deliver immediate gains even before any transfer window activity.
For Vieira, the end at Genoa contrasts with earlier coaching phases in which he oversaw the development of young players and implemented possession based concepts with periodized pressing. Serie A, with its tactical diversity and relentless detail in match preparation, demands quick problem solving. The lack of a consistent reference point, combined with mounting pressure from results, made continuity untenable. Despite the outcome, Vieira’s reputation as a thoughtful coach and strong leader will keep him in consideration for future roles, particularly in projects that value squad building and medium term planning.
Attention now turns to the short term fixture list. Genoa visit Sassuolo on Monday in the tenth round of Serie A, a match that offers both risk and opportunity. Sassuolo, currently in mid table, are capable of long possession phases and quick combinations in the half spaces, which will test Genoa’s defensive spacing and communication. For the interim staff, the immediate objective is clear. Reduce errors, increase intensity over ninety minutes, and find a route to points that can change the atmosphere around the squad. Even a draw away from home can act as a psychological reset given the current run.
The club’s medium term choices will follow a familiar Serie A script. The board must decide whether to confirm the interim setup if results stabilize, or to appoint a permanent manager with a defined blueprint before the winter window. Any new coach will need alignment with recruitment on profiles in central defense, a ball winning presence that does not compromise circulation, and a reliable source of goals. The lessons of the opening nine rounds are straightforward. Genoa need a clearer identity without the ball, faster vertical connections when space opens, and more composure in both penalty areas.
Supporters will look for signals of change immediately. Training intensity, communication from the staff, and the first team selection under Murgita will be read as markers of the new direction. A tighter eleven with natural partnerships, for example fullback and winger pairs on each flank and a midfield triangle with defined responsibilities, can create stability quickly. From there, set piece organization and transitional efficiency often deliver marginal gains that add up to points.
The broader Serie A picture adds context. Vieira is the second managerial departure of the 2025 to 2026 season, after Igor Tudor’s exit from Juventus earlier in the week. The early churn underscores the competitive pressure at the top level of Italian football and the low tolerance for prolonged winless runs. For Genoa, the path forward is demanding yet clear. Stabilize performances, build confidence through pragmatic results, and arrive at January with momentum and a precise recruitment plan.
Monday’s match at Sassuolo now functions as a checkpoint. A disciplined performance, even if not spectacular, can reset the narrative. The interim duo of Murgita and Criscito will try to supply exactly that, using familiarity with the club to extract a short term response. The long season still offers room for recovery, provided Genoa convert the present turbulence into clarity of purpose on the pitch.
