Sampdoria Relegated to Serie C for the First Time after a Season of Managerial Turmoil
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In a historic turn of events, Sampdoria, a renowned Italian football club with a 78-year history, has been relegated to Serie C, the third tier of Italian football, for the first time. The Genoa-based club ended their Serie B season with a goalless draw at Juve Stabia, securing a 18th-place finish, one point behind Salernitana who clinched a relegation play-off spot.
The club, which won their only Serie A title in 1991 with a star-studded team, had been playing in Italy's second tier since their relegation at the end of the 2022–23 season. The season was marred by managerial upheaval, with Italian World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo, Andrea Sottil, and Leonardo Semplici all taking charge, but failing to secure an immediate return to the top flight.
Pirlo was hired as coach in June 2023 but was dismissed following two defeats and a draw. Sottil replaced him and oversaw a Coppa Italia penalty-shootout victory against Genoa, but he too was dismissed in October 2024. Semplici took over, but with the club in the relegation zone, a 3-0 home defeat by Frosinone at the end of March became the tipping point for the fans, leading to the team bus being pelted with stones and flares after the match.
Semplici was relieved of his duties in April, with Alberico Evani - the club's fourth coach of the season - tasked with keeping them up. Things began promisingly for Evani, but three draws, a defeat, and just one win since then have not been enough to save them from relegation.
Source: BBC Sports Football
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