Lyon have sacked head coach Fabio Grosso after just seven games in charge, with the seven-time Ligue 1 champions propping up the table after a dismal start to the season.
Grosso, who won the 2006 FIFA World Cup with Italy as a player before helping Lyon to their most recent French title in 2007-08, oversaw a 2-0 defeat to Lille in his final match in charge on Sunday.
The Italian’s dismissal comes less than three months after he replaced Laurent Blanc, who was sacked in early September after a winless start to the campaign.
On Thursday, Lyon confirmed academy coach Pierre Sage will take charge on a temporary basis. Bruno Genesio, Jorge Sampaoli and Igor Tudor have all been linked with the role in the French media.
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A club statement said: “Taking into account the results obtained and after an in-depth analysis of the situation of the team, Olympique Lyonnais has decided to implement a procedure leading to the termination of the contract of Fabio Grosso and his deputies.
“Olympique Lyonnais would like to thank Fabio Grosso and his deputies for their involvement and professionalism since taking office.”
???? Pierre Sage nommé provisoirement à la tête du groupe professionnel ????????
???? Toutes les informations ici ⤵https://t.co/oqrXCb7xNA
— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) November 30, 2023
Lyon, who won seven successive domestic titles between 2001-02 and 2007-08, have just seven points from 12 games this season, winning one of their seven league outings under Grosso.
Grosso – along with his assistant Raffaele Longo – sustained facial injuries when Lyon’s team bus was attacked by fans ahead of a scheduled game at Marseille last month, which was subsequently postponed.
Three years on from making the UEFA Champions League semi-finals under Rudi Garcia in 2020, Lyon are now at serious risk of slipping into Ligue 2, sitting five points adrift of safety ahead of Saturday’s trip to Lens.
