Coaching changes in Serie A, why now, why so early?

On Tuesday, AS Roma parted ways with Luciano Spalletti, making him the first coaching casualty of the 2009/2010 Serie A season. Spalletti was in his fifth season as Roma head coach. Anyway he is already talking with Zenit stewards.

Fabio Capello (1999-2004) is the only coach who was longer in charge at Roma than Spalletti.

Early coach departures are not uncommon in Italy. According to Infostrada Sports, in 2004 Roma parted ways with Cesare Prandelli before the first matchday.

Earliest coaching changes per season in Serie A – last 10 seasons
Season Departing coach Club Date After matchday

2009/2010 Luciano Spalletti AS Roma 01 Sep 2009 2
2008/2009 Stefano Colantuono Palermo 04 Sep 2008 1
2007/2008 Fernando Orsi Livorno 09 Oct 2007 7
2006/2007 Giovanni De Biasi Torino 07 Sep 2006 0
2005/2006 Massimo Silva Ascoli 25 Aug 2005 0
2004/2005 Cesare Prandelli AS Roma 27 Aug 2004 0
2003/2004 Francesco Guidolin Bologna 27 Aug 2003 0
2002/2003 Giancarlo Camolese Torino 25 Oct 2002 5
2001/2002 Cesare Prandelli Venezia 09 Oct 2001 5
2000/2001 Marcello Lippi Internazionale 03 Oct 2000 1

Arsenal linked to £13m Mirko Vucinic swoop with Nicklas Bendtner set for Roma

Arsenal have offered £13million plus Nicklas Bendtner for Roma striker Mirko Vucinic, according to reports in Italy.

The Gunners, eyeing a striker to replace Emmanuel Adebayor, have reportedly joined the queue of suitors for the Montenegro striker.

Vucinic recently said he had no interest in a mooted switch to Tottenham Hotspur and, while he has also been tracked by Manchester United and Chelsea, Roma have previously insisted there has been no formal approach for the 25-year-old.

Wenger is also keen on Toulouse striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh and has also been linked to Real Madrid outcast Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. But he has now made his move for Vucinic, according to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.

Roma need to sell to eat into their huge debts, but are keen to keep Vucinic and midfielder Daniele De Rossi, with Alberto Aquilani and Jeremy Menez preferred as players they are wishing to sacrifice.

Liverpool have lined up Aquilani, 25, as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, should the Spain midfielder leave for Real Madrid. And Marseille have been linked with a move for 22-year-old French forward Menez.

Source: Daily Mail