Sassuolo did not waste any time. Within hours of sacking Alberto Aquilani, the struggling Serie A side found their replacement. Roberto D’Aversa has agreed to become the new Sassuolo head coach until the end of the season, according to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano. Here is what happened, why it happened and what D’Aversa walks into.
Roberto D’Aversa Agrees to Become New Sassuolo Coach
Romano shared the news on X on November 9. Football Italia reports that Sky Sport Italia and Sportitalia also confirmed the club was finalising the details. The deal runs to the end of the current campaign with no automatic renewal option, but the door is open to extend if results improve.
At 51, D’Aversa returns to Serie A after steering Torino away from trouble last season. He took charge of 12 games there from February to the end of the campaign. His earlier clubs include Parma, Sampdoria, Lecce and Empoli, so he knows the Italian top flight well.
Why Alberto Aquilani Was Sacked
The numbers made the decision easy. Sassuolo lost 3-0 at Roma on Saturday, their fifth straight Serie A defeat. The club announced on Monday that Aquilani and his staff had been relieved of their duties.
Across 13 matches in Serie A and the Coppa Italia, he won four, drew two and lost seven. The slide was steep, because Sassuolo had collected only one point from their last seven league games.
It began so well. In September, Aquilani oversaw a dramatic 3-2 win over Juventus, leaving Sassuolo with seven points after four games. Then it all unravelled. This was also Aquilani’s first top-flight job, after spells at Pisa and Catanzaro, and he lasted roughly five months.
Sassuolo are also the sixth Serie A club to sack a coach this season, a list that started when Fiorentina dismissed Fabio Grosso just three games in.
What D’Aversa Inherits at Sassuolo
The situation is tense. Sassuolo sit 17th, just one point above the relegation zone, and have not won since that Juventus night in September. The first job is simple: stop the losing and rebuild confidence.
The appointment is sensible on paper. D’Aversa’s recent Torino rescue shows he has handled pressure in tight situations before. Vincenzo Montella was reportedly also considered, but D’Aversa emerged as the favourite.
For Sassuolo, the plan is clear. They want a quick reaction, a steadier defence and enough points to stay clear of the drop. Every Serie A fixture now carries real weight in this relegation battle.
Final Whistle
Coaching changes are never guaranteed fixes, but they can lift a dressing room. Sometimes a struggling team just needs a fresh voice and a second chance to believe again. D’Aversa gets that chance now, and Sassuolo supporters will be watching every minute.
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