Former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has left his position as Udinese head coach — despite avoiding relegation from Serie A.
The 50-year-old oversaw Udinese’s five-game unbeaten run at the end of the season, in which they collected nine points and avoided relegation on the final day of the season.
Udinese won just six league matches all season but two of those came in their final three matches as they maintained their top-flight status, with Frosinone joining Sassuolo and Salernitana in relegation to Serie B.
Cannavaro confirmed on Saturday that he had been informed by Udinese president Giampolo Pozzo that he would no longer be continuing at the club, but reiterated his desire to stay in management.
The former central defender wrote that he had “regret (for) not being able to continue this short but intense journey” and added that he had made himself available “unconditionally” to staying at Udinese beyond this season.
Cannavaro had been assisted at Udinese by his younger brother Paolo Cannavaro, whom he previously worked alongside during his stints as head coach of Chinese club Guangzhou and Benevento.
The former Real Madrid and Juventus defender is regarded as one of the most successful players in Italian football, but this was his first managerial job in Serie A.
(Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
