Andrea Pirlo has been sacked as manager of Sampdoria after just over a season in charge.
Second-tier Sampdoria started the season with one draw and two losses, leaving them second-bottom in the table.
Pirlo, who won the World Cup as a player with Italy in 2006, had a one-year spell as Juventus coach in 2020-21, after he briefly coached their under-23 team.
Sampdoria were relegated in 2023, and subsequently bought by former Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani and businessman Matteo Manfredi, who appointed Pirlo seeking a quick return.
But the club came seventh last season, losing in the promotion play-offs, and this season’s poor start means they are already six points off the two automatic promotion places.