Sassuolo Dismiss Alberto Aquilani After Five Straight Defeats

Sassuolo have dismissed head coach Alberto Aquilani following five consecutive defeats in Italy's top flight, according to a report by ANTARA News. The club announced the separation on its official website on Monday, 9 November, stating that it had parted ways with Aquilani and his staff and thanking him for the commitment and seriousness he showed while leading the Neroverdi. The report describes the club statement as an announcement rather than framing it as independently confirmed by other parties.

The dismissal had been anticipated after Sassuolo were beaten 3-0 by AS Roma, a result that deepened a poor run. According to the report, Aquilani's record this season across all competitions, including the league and the Coppa Italia, stood at four wins, two draws and seven defeats. The team is described as including Indonesia captain Jay Idzes.

Aquilani was appointed last summer to replace Fabio Grosso and was given a contract running until June 2028. The Sassuolo job was his first as a head coach in Italy's top division; he had previously coached Pisa and Catanzaro in Serie B and worked in Fiorentina's youth academy. His tenure began positively, with the report highlighting a 3-2 win over Juventus on 13 September as one of his best results, followed by a 1-1 draw with AC Milan before the team's form declined and it lost six of its subsequent matches.

After the dismissal, Roberto D'Aversa is reported to have agreed to take over the coaching position, according to the same report. Sassuolo are said to need a new coach quickly to improve results and move away from the threat of relegation in Serie A. The report does not state which match or date the five-defeat run began, nor does it provide further details on the terms of D'Aversa's reported agreement.