Igor Tudor takes over at Verona after Di Francesco, Semplici both sacked

Igor Tudor has taken over as coach of Verona, the Serie A club said on Tuesday, hours after Eusebio Di Francesco was sacked following just four games in charge.

Last season former Croatia international Tudor, 43, was Andrea Pirlo’s deputy at Juventus, winning the Italian Cup and Super Cup for the club where he won two league titles as a player.

Di Francesco, 52, was shown the door by Verona after failing to obtain a single point from his team’s first three Serie A matches, his only win coming in the Italian Cup first round against Catanzaro last month.

The axe fell after Verona lost 1-0 at Bologna on Monday, leaving them in the relegation zone and with the daunting visit of Serie A leaders Roma coming on Sunday.

Di Francesco arrived at Verona this summer trying to rebuild his managerial career following disappointing spells in charge of Sampdoria and Cagliari.

He had made a name for himself by taking Sassuolo to Europe for the first time in their history in 2016 and two years later leading Roma to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

He was followed at Cagliari by Leonardo Semplici, who was also sacked on Tuesday after managing a single draw from his three league matches.

After being sacked by SPAL in 2020, 54-year-old Semplici managed to save the Sardinian side from relegation last season after Di Francesco was shown the door in February.

However they sit 17th in Italy’s top flight and travel to Rome to face Lazio this weekend.