Patrick Vieira has been appointed as the new manager of Genoa, the Italian club said in a statement on Wednesday.
Vieira, who stepped down from his role at Strasbourg in July after completing just a third of his three-year contract at Chelsea‘s sister club, is now back in management after taking over at Genoa, who sit 17th in Serie A.
His one campaign in charge of Strasbourg saw the Ligue 1 outfit finish 13th out of 18 teams in France’s top tier.
The Arsenal legend has replaced Alberto Gilardino in the dugout after Genoa suffered a miserable start to the campaign, winning just two of their opening 12 league fixtures.
The Italian club confirmed the appointment in a statement, which read: ‘Genoa CFC announces that it has entrusted the technical management of the first team to Patrick Vieira.
‘The new coach will lead the first training session after the formalisation of the contract in the Villa Rostan headquarters this afternoon.
Patrick Vieira has been named as Genoa’s new manager after four months out of the game
Genoa confirmed the Arsenal legend’s appointment in a statement on social media (right)
Vieira will reunite with former team-mate Mario Balotelli, who joined Genoa only last month
‘After a professional career, between 2011 and 2015, as Executive Development Football in the Manchester City Academy, Vieira has coached the teams of New York City, Nice, Crystal Palace and Strasbourg. Welcome mister!’
The Frenchman will now reunite with his former City team-mate, Mario Balotelli, who joined Genoa last month.
The pair, who crossed paths again while Vieira was manager at Nice, have a tense relationship and will be forced to navigate an awkward reunion following Vieira’s appointment.
Balotelli was enjoying one of the most fruitful spells in front of goal at the French club prior to the Arsenal icon’s arrival, netting 15 times in 23 games during the 2016-17 Ligue 1 season.
Vieira claims the former Italy international was difficult to work with due to his way of life and individuality.
Speaking about Balotelli to Mail Sport in 2020, he said: ‘Mario’s mindset was difficult for a collective sport. The philosophy I wanted to put in place, the togetherness and work ethic I wanted to build, it was difficult for me to work with a player like Mario.
‘It was really difficult for both of us to work together, so we decided to go different ways.’
Meanwhile, Balotelli has previously said of Vieira in an interview: ‘I lived in Villefranche, and it was crazy. I was smiling every day, I went to the sea every day. It was a dream life.
It promises to be an awkward reunion, with the pair clashing during Vieira’s time at Nice
Vieira replaces Alberto Gilardino (above) who had been Genoa boss since December 2022
Genoa currently sit a lowly 17th in Serie A, just a solitary position above the relegation zone
‘The problem was that the way Vieira played didn’t really suit me. I got along well with him, but on sporting matters, I didn’t agree. If I hadn’t had these problems with him, I would never have left Nice.’
Former Italian striker Gilardino, who he played for between 2012 and 2014, since December 2022, guided the team to a respectable 11th-placed finish last campaign, just one position behind Napoli who won the Scudetto a year prior.
As the statement outlines, Genoa represents Vieira’s fifth position in management following his retirement from playing the game in 2011.
The former Arsenal captain, 48, started his coaching journey at Manchester City before being appointed head coach at MLS side New York City in 2016.
A spell at Nice followed before Vieira returned to the Premier League to take charge of Crystal Palace.
He spent just under two years at the helm in south London before being sacked in March 2023 after a 12-match winless run.
After leaving Strasbourg, Vieira had been linked with several jobs, including the United States national team, which is now being managed by Mauricio Pochettino.
