Patrick Vieira: Arsenal legend named coach of Serie A side Genoa

Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira has been named new manager of Serie A club Genoa.

The 48-year-old coach arrives at a club that occupies 17th position in the Italian top flight, one point above the relegation zone.

The former Crystal Palace coach, who left RC Strasbourg in July, succeeds former Italian striker Alberto Gilardino, who had been in charge since December 2022.

Under Gilardino, the 2006 World Cup winner, Genoa had won two of its 12 league games this season and was eliminated from the Coppa Italia by Sampdoria on penalties.

The appointment reunites Vieira with Mario Balotelli, who signed for Genoa last month.

Vieira managed his former Manchester City and Inter Milan teammate at Ligue 1 side Nice during the 2018-19 season.

Balotelli has since said that it was disagreements with Vieira over tactics that led to his departure from the club in 2019.

During his playing career, Vieira won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups at Arsenal, as well as titles with AC Milan, Inter Milan and Manchester City.

He also helped France win the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

Vieira retired in 2011 and became New York City manager in 2016.

The former midfielder returned to Europe with Nice and led them to seventh place in Ligue 1 in his first season, but was sacked in December 2020.

Vieira became Palace manager in 2021 and guided the Eagles to the FA Cup semi-finals.

He was sacked in 2023 after a 12-game winless streak, before joining Strasbourg as their first appointment following the takeover by BlueCo, the company that also owns Chelsea.