Official Venezia sack Stroppa after six straight defeats: Zanetti and Nicola in frame to replace him

FolioPitch.com – 13 October 2026 | In a move that had been widely anticipated across Italian football, Venezia FC have confirmed that they have parted ways with head coach Giovanni Stroppa following a disastrous start to their Serie A campaign. The decision, announced on Tuesday morning, came just hours after a 3-1 defeat away to Atalanta in Bergamo, a result that left the newly-promoted side rooted to the bottom of the table. It is now Official Venezia sack Stroppa after six straight defeats, a run that has seen the club concede 16 goals while scoring just five, making them the league’s most porous defence.

The club released a statement confirming the dismissal: “Venezia FC announces that Giovanni Stroppa has been relieved of his duties as Head Coach of the First Team. Under his leadership, the Club secured promotion to Serie A in the 2025/26 season, finishing a Serie BKT campaign in which it played a leading role. The Club would like to thank Giovanni Stroppa and his staff for their work, professionalism, dedication and commitment throughout their time with the arancioneroverde.”

Stroppa, 58, had been hailed as the architect of Venezia’s return to the top flight after a impressive Serie B campaign. However, the step up in quality proved brutally unforgiving. Venezia lost all six of their opening Serie A fixtures, a sequence that included heavy defeats to Lazio, Udinese and now Atalanta. Their only victory of the season across all competitions came on August 15, a 3-2 Coppa Italia first-round win over Serie B side Modena, before they crashed out in the next round with a 2-1 loss to local rivals Udinese.

The writing had been on the wall for some time. Venezia’s defence has been consistently overwhelmed, shipping goals at an alarming rate. In their six league matches, they have conceded an average of 2.67 goals per game, a statistic that ultimately sealed Stroppa’s fate. The club’s hierarchy, led by president Duncan Niederauer, opted to act swiftly in a bid to halt the slide and give the team a fighting chance of survival.

Stroppa becomes the fourth Serie A coach to be sacked in the 2026-27 season, following Fabio Grosso (Fiorentina), Domenico Tedesco (Bologna) and Carlos Cuesta (Parma). The trend highlights the ruthless nature of top-flight football, where patience is often in short supply. For Venezia, the decision to part ways with the man who delivered promotion was undoubtedly painful, but the board felt it was necessary to arrest the decline.

Attention now turns to who will replace Stroppa. According to multiple sources, including Gazzetta dello Sport and Sky Sport Italia, Paolo Zanetti and Davide Nicola are the leading candidates. Zanetti, who previously managed Venezia between 2020 and 2022, is a familiar face and knows the club’s culture well. Nicola, on the other hand, has built a reputation as a survival specialist, having kept several clubs in Serie A against the odds. Both would bring different qualities, but the primary objective will be to organise a leaky defence and restore confidence.

Venezia’s next fixture is a daunting home clash against Napoli on Saturday, October 17, with kick-off at 15:00 CET. The match will provide an immediate test for the incoming coach, whoever it may be. Napoli, with their star-studded attack, will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing a Venezia side in turmoil. Yet, football is unpredictable, and a new manager bounce could give the arancioneroverde a glimmer of hope.

The club’s supporters, who have remained loyal despite the poor results, will be hoping that the change in the dugout sparks a revival. The task is immense: Venezia must not only start picking up points but also address a defensive record that is the worst in the division. The new coach will have limited time to work with the squad before the Napoli game, but the international break that follows could offer a valuable opportunity to implement new ideas.

In conclusion, the dismissal of Giovanni Stroppa marks a sad end to a tenure that began with such promise. Promotion from Serie B was a remarkable achievement, but the harsh realities of Serie A have exposed the gulf in class. With Official Venezia sack Stroppa after six straight defeats now confirmed, the club must move quickly to appoint a successor and begin the long road to recovery. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Venezia can avoid an immediate return to the second tier. For now, the focus is on finding the right man to steady the ship and reignite a season that is rapidly slipping away.