Stanković appointed coach of last-place Sampdoria in Serie A

GENOA, Italy (AP) — Former Lazio and Inter Milan midfielder Dejan Stanković was appointed coach of last-placed Serie A club Sampdoria on Thursday.

Stanković replaced Marco Giampaolo, who was fired following a 3-0 loss at home to promoted side Monza last weekend.

Sampdoria, the 1990-91 Italian league champion, hasn’t won a game this season, with two draws and six losses.

It will be the second head coaching job for Stanković and the first in Italy after he stepped down as Red Star Belgrade manager in August after the Serbian team failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Stanković will make his debut at Bologna on Saturday.

It’s the third coaching change this season after Thiago Motta replaced Siniša Mihajlović at Bologna and Raffaele Palladino replaced Giovanni Stroppa at Monza.

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