Venezia have turned to Davide Nicola after a punishing opening to their Serie A season, appointing a coach whose career has repeatedly been defined by difficult survival campaigns.
The decision
Six defeats from their first six league fixtures brought Giovanni Stroppa’s time in charge to an end. Venezia have responded by handing the first-team role to Nicola, who has signed a deal beginning tomorrow and running until the conclusion of the 2027/28 season.
The club are asking Nicola to change the direction of a season that has begun without a point. His immediate task is clear: restore belief around a group that has struggled for results, while guiding Venezia towards safety in the top division.
Nicola said Venezia’s longer-term outlook was an important reason for accepting the post. He also pointed to his existing relationship with director Antonelli, saying it made him feel genuinely wanted by the club.
Having watched the team’s early matches, Nicola said he had noticed positive chemistry among the players. He arrives, he added, with “enormous enthusiasm and hunger”, determined to return to the pitch and pursue survival alongside the supporters.
For Nicola, staying up is not simply a target on the table. He said the most meaningful part of his work is creating emotions and leaving behind chapters that endure, an ambition he believes Venezia must pursue collectively with their public.
A coach with survival experience
Born in Luserna San Giovanni, in the province of Turin, in 1973, Nicola moved into coaching in 2010 after finishing his playing career. His first job came in Serie C with Lumezzane.
He later took Livorno into Serie A after joining the club in the summer of 2012. Livorno finished third in the Serie B regular season before winning promotion through the play-offs.
Following a season at Bari in 2014/15, Nicola was appointed by Crotone and oversaw what became a landmark Serie A escape. The pattern continued in later assignments: at Udinese in 2018/19, at Genoa, where he lifted the side from bottom place to safety, and at Torino after taking over on 19 January 2021.
His work at Salernitana the following season produced another major recovery, while he arrived at Empoli in January 2024 and again secured their Serie A status. At Cagliari, he ended the following campaign in 15th place on 36 points.
Nicola’s most recent post was with Cremonese, where his spell lasted until March 2026. Venezia are now betting that the experience gathered across those rescue jobs can provide a steadier course after their bleak first six rounds.
Nicola’s staff
Three members of Nicola’s team will join Venezia’s first-team staff:
- Manuele Cacicia, technical assistant;
- Gabriele Stoppino, fitness coach;
- Lorenzo Squizzi, goalkeeping coach.
