2023-11-30 16:29:11
The Italian Fabio Grosso, during his first training session with the players of Olympique Lyonnais, in Décines-Charpieu, September 18, 2023. JEFF PACHOUD / AFP
Fabio Grosso is not the providential man of Olympique Lyonnais (OL). The 46-year-old Italian, 2006 world champion with Squadra Azzurra and former OL defender (2007-2009), was fired on Thursday, November 30, barely two months after his appointment as coach . In a press release, the Rhone football club specifies that it is implementing a procedure “which could lead to the breakdown of [son] employment contract “ as well as those of his assistants Raffaele Longo, Francesco Vaccariello, Vittorio Carello and Mauro Carretta.
The day before, Fabio Grosso spoke with the American John Textor, owner of the team. In its text, Thursday, the club explains that its decision was made “taking into account the results obtained and after an in-depth analysis of the situation of the professional team”.
The Roman arrived on September 16, replacing Laurent Blanc, with the mission of relaunching OL following a catastrophic start to the season: last in Ligue 1 with only one point collected in four games. Initially contracted until June 30, 2024, Fabio Grosso failed to pull Lyon out of its slump. Despite his hardworking side and a real investment in the club he knew as a player, the Italian only recorded one victory in eight matches, on November 12, in Rennes (0-1). He also pays for his tactical errors and the instability of his choices.
Threat of relegation
The home defeat on November 26 against Lille (0-2) was the end of the Italian coach’s future within the seven-time French champion club. Lyon is still bottom with 7 points accumulated in twelve matches; the threat of relegation to the second division is very real. The Rhone residents have not experienced Ligue 2 since the 1988-1989 season.
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While waiting to find a successor to Fabio Grosso, the interim is entrusted to Pierre Sage, who currently manages the training center. This one will have a lot to do: Saturday December 2, OL travel to Lens – currently 6th in Ligue 1 – for the 14th day of the championship. Four days later, he will be at the Stade-Vélodrome for the postponed match against Olympique de Marseille. Initially scheduled for October 29, the meeting was postponed after the Rhone bus was stoned during its journey to the enclosure. That evening, Fabio Grosso was injured by a projectile. His bruised face will undoubtedly remain the image of his time on the club bench.
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