Empoli have officially appointed Paolo Zanetti as their new coach. He substitutes Aurelio Andreazzoli at the helm. The Azzurri opted to move on from the veteran after a single season despite clinching the permanence in Serie A for another campaign relatively early.
Instead, the new gaffer got relegated with Venezia. They had a decent start but succumbed due to a lengthy losing streak. He was fired with three matchdays to go and Andrea Soncin took over. The 40-year-old previously managed SudTirol and Ascoli in the lower leagues. He had led the Lagunari to a surprising promotion in 2020/2021.
Empoli announced to have given Zanetti a two-year contract with an optional third season. Top director Piero Accardi, who was eyed by other sides, will stay at the club and has prolonged his deal. President Fabrizio Corsi motivated the decision not to retain Andreazzoli, who was on an expiring deal, as Tuttomercatoweb penned.
“It was a hard but thought-out choice. It resulted from an analysis of the last few months. Besides the wins against Napoli and Atalanta, the squad lost brilliancy and conviction in the second half of the season. The next one will be even harder. We hope to rekindle the right enthusiasm. We are sorry because we will be forever be greateful to Aurelio, who gave us big satisfactions. But we had to look past the emotional aspects. We had the third worst defense in the league despite having a top goalkeeper. Plus, I am well aware of the challenge of avoiding relegation for two years in a row.”
Andreazzoli replied to Ansa.
“I can only acknowledge the decision by the chairmain, which does not reflect my expectation nor my will. But such is football, and I will have to move forward now.”