It was less than six months ago that Paolo Di Canio took over from Martin Oneil as manager of Sunderland football club, at the back end of last season. There were memorable scenes of the Italian celebrating the goals his team scored such as sliding on his knees and fist pumps.
It was less than six months ago that Paolo Di Canio took over from Martin Oneil as manager of Sunderland football club, at the back end of last season. There were memorable scenes of the Italian celebrating the goals his team scored such as sliding on his knees and fist pumps.
Those celebrations we will see no more. Not of him as Sunderland manager anyway, as he was summarily dismissed yesterday less than six months into the job.
A string of poor results since the start of the new season has led to the club picking up just one point from five games and now they prop up the premier league table. The 3-0 hammering they took from West Brom on Saturday was the final nail in the coffin and the board has moved swiftly to part ways with the former West Ham player.
Kevin Ball has been put in charge while they search for Di Canio’s replacement begins. Another Italian, Roberto Di Matteo, has been made favourites by the bookies to take over the job.
The shelf life of a premier league manager has gotten very short these days but football is no longer just a sport, it is now big business and big business demands results. Gone are the days where time was available to get things right. It is a case of ‘now or never’.
A statement on the club’s official website read: “Sunderland AFC confirms that it has parted company with head coach Paolo Di Canio this evening.
“Kevin Ball will take charge of the squad ahead of Tuesday night’s Capital One Cup game against Peterborough United and an announcement will be made in due course regarding a permanent successor.
“The club would like to place on record its thanks to Paolo and his staff and wishes them well for the future.”
Sunderland play host to Peterborough in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night.
Photo: Paolo Di Canio (PA)
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