Roberto D’Aversa Appointed New Sassuolo Manager to Replace Alberto Aquilani

Sassuolo dismissed head coach Alberto Aquilani on Monday following a five-match winless streak in Italy’s top flight, detikSport reported.

The club confirmed the departure after a difficult run that left the Serie A side hovering just above the relegation zone in 17th place with eight points from 11 matches, according to Republika.

Aquilani’s tenure ended abruptly following a 3-0 defeat to AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. This defeat marked the end of a winless run that saw Sassuolo concede 19 goals during the five-match winless streak, with their last victory recorded on September 14, 2026, when they defeated Juventus 3-2.

Management moved quickly to install Roberto D’Aversa on a contract running through June 30, 2027, as reported by detikSport. The newly appointed manager takes over a squad that has conceded 29 goals in Serie A this season, including 19 during their recent winless slide.

D'Aversa Begins Training with Technical Staff at Mapei Football Center

D’Aversa arrived alongside assistant coach Salvatore Sullo to begin training sessions at the Mapei Football Center in Reggio Emilia. Republika melaporkan bahwa staf teknis juga mencakup pelatih Marco Piccioni dan Marco Riggio, pelatih kebugaran Paolo Rongoni, Francesco Petrungaro, Andrea Rinaldi, dan Simone Vignudelli, serta pelatih penjaga gawang Marco Bizzarri.

The 51-year-old manager will be formally introduced to the media in a press conference at Mapei Football Center. His managerial debut is scheduled for November 22 when Sassuolo returns from the international break to host Genoa.

Jay Idzes Earns Praise Despite Sassuolo Loss

Sassuolo sits in 17th place with eight points, holding a single-point margin above the relegation zone. The club’s recent results include a 3-0 loss to AS Roma where Indonesian national team captain Jay Idzes earned praise from Italian media as the most solid defender in the backline, receiving a 5.5 rating from Canale Sassuolo.

This rating was higher than his defensive partners, Sebastian Walukiewicz, who received a 4, and Duje Caleta-Car, who received a 5. “From the three defenders, he [Idzes] was the most solid, also dangerous in attack with a shot in the first half that missed the target,” wrote Canale Sassuolo.

D’Aversa arrives with established experience in steering Italian clubs away from the drop zone, having managed Torino for 12 matches between February and June 2026, as noted by Kompas.

His resume also includes spells at Parma, Sampdoria, Lecce, and Empoli, highlighted by guiding Parma through successive promotions from Serie C to Serie A. Alongside D’Aversa, another candidate for the coaching position emerged in the form of former Roma legend Vincenzo Montella, who had recently been dismissed from his role with the Turkish national team.

More on this story: Sassuolo Dismisses Alberto Aquilani as Roberto D'Aversa Leads Race

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