Venezia have ended Giovanni Stroppa’s tenure after six successive Serie A defeats left the newly promoted side without a point, bringing an abrupt close to the coach’s return to the top flight with the club.
A promotion coach pays for a barren opening
The decision was taken in the aftermath of Venezia’s defeat in Bergamo against Maurizio Sarri’s Atalanta, their sixth league loss in a row. The result kept the arancioneroverdi at the foot of the early Serie A standings, still waiting for their first point of the campaign.
Stroppa, formerly of Monza, had guided Venezia to promotion from Serie BKT in 2025/26 after a season in which the club competed at the leading end of the division. That achievement was acknowledged by the club when it announced his dismissal at around 11am on Tuesday, 13 October.
- Venezia have lost each of their first six Serie A matches.
- The club had retained Stroppa through the extended international break.
- Despite the compact nature of the table at this stage, the board opted for an immediate change.
- Stroppa will not be in charge for Saturday’s home match against Massimiliano Allegri’s Napoli, scheduled for 3pm at the Penzo.
Stroppa had retained faith in his group
Speaking after the loss at the New Balance Arena, Stroppa had argued that the team remained capable of responding. He said the squad were competitive and offered encouraging signs in their daily work, though he struggled to understand the costly mistakes that had damaged them.
The outgoing coach also pointed to the return of important players and the standard of training, maintaining that Venezia could react quickly. He accepted the supporters’ anger after they had travelled in significant numbers on a weekday, saying the side had gone to receive the whistles because their start to the match had warranted them.
Stroppa’s position then was that daily work would eventually bring rewards. Venezia have instead decided that the next attempt to turn that work into points will be led by another coach.
The search for a replacement begins
Venezia confirmed Stroppa’s departure with a statement thanking him and his staff for their work, professionalism, commitment and dedication during their time at the club. The promotion he delivered remains a significant part of that spell, even as the winless start has forced a swift separation.
Several options are under consideration as Venezia seek a coach capable of changing the direction of their season.
- Paolo Zanetti has been contacted by Venezia’s directors. It would represent a return for the coach, who previously managed the club from 2020 to 2022.
- Davide Nicola is another candidate. His record includes survival campaigns with Crotone and Salernitana.
For Venezia, the Napoli fixture now arrives as more than the next date on the calendar. It is the first test of a new decision, made before the season’s early drift can become a deeper problem.
