Serie A strugglers Bologna have sacked coach Sinisa Mihajlovic and named Giuseppe Papadopulo as his replacement.
Fiery Serb Mihajlovic took over from Daniele Arrigoni in November but after a decent start his side slipped back into the relegation zone following Saturday’s 4-1 home defeat by mid-table Siena.
“Bologna announce that they have relieved Sinisa Mihajlovic of his duties as first team coach. Giuseppe Papadopulo has been entrusted with coaching the club,” a statement on the club’s website read.
Bologna, promoted last season, are third-bottom in the final relegation slot and one point from safety with seven games left. Much-travelled coach Papadopulo helped Lecce gain promotion to Serie A last season but left the southern club before the start of the campaign after failing to come to agreement on a new contract.
Mihajlovic was in his first job as a head coach after previously being the assistant manager at Internazionale before being dismissed with Roberto Mancini at the end of last season despite Inter winning the title.
The former Yugoslavia international, a tough defender who won the European Cup with Red Star Belgrade in 1991 and the Italian championship with Lazio in 2000, clashed a number of times with Inter coach Jose Mourinho since November.