Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira ‘could leave Genoa’ after just six months – with Serie A side marooned in midtable
Time could be running out for Patrick Vieira as Genoa manager, according to reports from Italy.
The former Arsenal midfielder’s side have won just two of their last 11 matches and sit in 13th position in the Serie A table.
Genoa did, however, pull off a creditable 2-2 draw at title-chasing Napoli on Sunday after which Vieira was evasive when quizzed about his future.
‘There is talk of many players or coaches leaving, I am thinking about finishing the season on a positive note,’ the 48-year-old said.
‘This is the objective now and we have demonstrated it with Milan (a 2-1 home defeat last week) and Napoli. There will be time to think about such things after the season is over.’
And TuttoMercatoWeb are reporting that when the season ends, so too could Vieira’s time in the Italian Riviera.
Patrick Vieira could be nearing the end as Genoa manager according to reports from Italy
The former France midfielder captained Arsenal during their 2003-04 ‘Invincibles’ season
The 48-year-old made a promising start at Crystal Palace before things declined rapidly
The outlet claims that Genoa are already lining up former Fiorentina boss Paulo Sousa, currently coaching Shabab Al-Ahli in the UAE, as Vieira’s replacement.
It would mark the latest disappointment for Vieira in what was once a promising managerial career.
After finishing his playing career at Man City, the Frenchman’s first managerial post was at New York City FC. The Major League Soccer side are part of City Football Group founded by Man City owner Sheikh Mansour.
Vieira won many admirers during his two-and-a-half-year stint with NYCFC, guiding to the club from 17th in 2015 to a fourth-place finish in his first season and then second the following year.
The Arsenal ‘Invincible’ was even tipped to replace Arsene Wenger when the Gunners’ boss left the Emirates in 2018.
Instead, Vieira went to Ligue 1 club Nice where he achieved seventh and fifth-placed finishes during his two full seasons which persuaded Crystal Palace to make him Roy Hodgson’s successor in 2021.
His stint at Selhurst Park start well as he led the Eagles to a 12th-placed finish in his first season, earning praise for an attacking style. Things declined sharply in his second season, however, and he was sacked after a run of 12 games without a win with the club scoring just 21 goals in 27 matches.
Vieira then served just one year of a three-year deal at Strasbourg before stepping down and taking up his position at Genoa four months later.
