Sassuolo fires Dionisi and puts youth team coach Bigica temporarily in charge
Sassuolo's Andrea Pinamonti, left, celebrates scoring with teammates during the Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Empoli at Mapei Stadium, Reggio Emilia, Italy, Saturday Feb. 24, 2024. Credit: AP/Massimo Paolone
SASSUOLO, Italy — Sassuolo fired Alessio Dionisi as coach on Sunday and put youth team manager Emiliano Bigica temporarily in charge, with the team hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone.
Sassuolo has won just one of its last 13 matches in all competitions — losing 10 of them — and Saturday’s defeat to fellow struggler Empoli left it level on points with Hellas Verona and Cagliari, which are in the bottom three.
Sassuolo announced the news in a brief statement on its website. It hosts Napoli on Wednesday before a crucial match at Verona four days later.
Dionisi had led Sassuolo to 11th and 13th place finishes in his two previous seasons in charge.
Bigica has coached the youth teams of several clubs as well as the Italy Under-17 team but has never coached a senior side above the fourth division of Italian soccer.
It was the ninth coaching change in Serie A this season.
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