Udinese fifth Serie A club to switch coach as Runjaic axed

Udinese, the fifth Serie A club to change management this season, has parted ways with coach Kosta Runjaic, the Italian press reported on Monday. The club's decision came after Runjaic was dismissed for a string of poor results that left Udinese languishing in the relegation zone. The Slovenian manager's tenure, which lasted over two years, was marked by several achievements, but Udinese's recent form has been uncharacteristically poor.

In a statement released on Monday, Udinese said that Runjaic's departure was amicable. The club swiftly appointed Paolo Zanetti, a former coach of Venezia, Empoli and Verona, to take charge of the team until the end of the season. Zanetti, who has been tasked with reviving Udinese's fortunes, is expected to bring fresh strategies to the squad.

Udinese currently sits at the bottom of the league table with just five points after 10 matches, having lost seven of their last eight league games. This dismal run of form has seen the club slip from mid-table positions to the relegation zone for the third consecutive season.

The managerial upheaval in Serie A this season has seen five coaches leave their posts, following the exits of Fabio Grosso at Fiorentina, Domenico Tedesco at Bologna, Carlos Cuesta at Parma, and Davide Nicola at Venezia. The trend highlights the intense pressure on managers in Italy's top flight.