OFFICIAL: Patrick Vieira becomes Genoa manager

Following reports advanced yesterday claiming that Patrick Vieira will become the new Genoa manager, the club have confirmed the Frenchman's appointment on Wednesday.

Vieira will now lead Italy's oldest club, taking over from Alberto Gilardino, who's sacking was announced on Tuesday. His first game in charge will see him taking on Cagliari in the Serie A on Sunday.

"Genoa CFC announces that Patrick Vieira has been handed the senior team manager's job," reads the club's post on X - formerly known as Twitter. "The new coach will conduct his first training session this afternoon after having formalised his contract at the Villa Rostan headquarters."

"With a professional background in Executive Development Football at Manchester City's Academy - between 2011 and 2015 - Vieira has coached at New York City, Nice, Crystal Palace and Strasbourg," the Italian side added.

The former Arsenal player therefore joins Mario Balotelli, who was recently signed as a free agent, at Genoa. The pair have had particular love-hate relationship throughout in their careers, sharing dressing rooms at Inter Milan and Man City. Viera coached Balotelli during his time at Nice, but when the Italian departed the French side for their rivals Olympique Marseille, he blamed the French manager for his exit.

 

November 20, 2024