Fiorentina appoint Guerini to replace Rossi
Reuters - Thursday 03 May 2012, 13:20
Fiorentina promoted team manager Vincenzo
Guerini to the role of head coach on Thursday after sacking
Delio Rossi for punching his own player during a match.
Rossi, usually one of the calmest coaches in the histrionic
Italian league, lost his cool when substituting Serbian
midfielder Adem Ljajic in the first half of the 2-2 home draw
with relegated Novara on Wednesday.
The player ironically applauded the coach as he entered the
dugout and Rossi grabbed Ljajic before landing two blows while
scrabbling around on the ground.
"The first team squad for the last two games of the season
has been entrusted to Vincenzo Guerini," the not yet safe Serie
A club said in a statement, referring to Rossi's actions as a
"very serious episode".
"Fiorentina also announce we have started disciplinary
proceedings against Adem Ljajic."
Serie A also said in a statement that Rossi had received a
three-month ban from the game and that Fiorentina had been fined
15,000 eurosnbecause fans "ethnically insulted" Ljajic
as he came off.
Rossi's ban means he may struggle to find a club for next
season with the 2012/13 campaign starting in late August.
Guerini, whose administrative role as team manager would
have included organising kits and buses, has been a head coach
before with a myriad of clubs including Napoli and Catania.
Fiorentina travel to third-bottom Lecce on Saturday needing
a point to secure safety after a woeful season for one of
Italy's most recognisable clubs.