Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira sacked after nightmare run as Jamie Vardy helps seal fate.

Arsenal legend and former Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has lost his job at Serie A side Genoa after failing to pick up a single victory in their first nine games of the season

Patrick Vieira has been sacked by Genoa after seeing his team slide down the Serie A table. The former Arsenal star oversaw a 2-0 home loss against newly-promoted Cremonese in his final match in charge, leaving the Rossoblu bottom of the pile.

Jamie Vardy's strike partner, Federico Bonazzoli, scored both of Cremonese's goals in their 2-0 win on Wednesday. The result made it nine games without a win for Vieira's side to kick off the new season.

"Genoa CFC announces that Patrick Vieira is no longer the coach of the First Team," Genoa said in a statement. "The club would like to thank the coach and his staff for the dedication and professionalism they have shown throughout their work and wishes them all the best for their future careers.

"The technical leadership of the First Team has been entrusted on an interim basis to Mister Roberto Murgita, assisted by Mister Domenico Criscito," they added. Genoa's next game is on Monday, away to Sassuolo."

Vieira only signed a new contract with the Italian side over the summer after being linked with former club Inter Milan. Simone Inzaghi had recently left Inter for Al-Hilal but ended up being replaced by Vieira's former San Siro team-mate, Christian Chivu.

Genoa kicked off the campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over third-tier Vicenza in the Coppa Italia, also beating Serie B side Empoli in round two, but haven't been able to follow those victories with a league win. They have just three draws and six defeats from their nine outings, while their return of just four goals scored is the joint-worst in the league.

Fans showed their dissatisfaction after the Cremonese defeat, while Vieira was asked about his future in the immediate aftermath. “You ask me a question like this after a match? I understand it is your job, but this question makes no sense to me,” he said, as translated by Football Italia.

“My worry is to try to find a way to win games. This is a difficult moment for all of us, and we must accept the criticism that comes our way. For the rest, we’ll see. Replying to this question now is not my style.”

Genoa players in their defeat against Cremonese

Genoa have yet to win in Serie A this season

Vieira, 49, took over at Genoa in November 2024 after predecessor Alberto Gilardino made way with the team stuck in 17th. He oversaw a recovery in the second half of the season, securing a mid-table finish and earning an impressive late-season draw away to title-chasing Napoli.

Previously, the World Cup winner led Strasbourg to a 13th-place finish in Ligue 1 in his one full season in Alsace. He also spent more than a year in charge of Premier League side Crystal Palace, finishing 12th in his one full season and bringing compatriots Jean-Philippe Mateta and Michael Olise to Selhurst Park.