Milan: Former Italy and Inter Milan goalkeeper Walter Zenga was sacked as Palermo coach on Monday after his side could only draw 1-1 at home to Sicilian rivals Catania at the weekend.
Zenga, who coached Catania before making the surprise switch to the island's capital in the close season, is the latest in a string of coaches to be axed by uncompromising Palermo president Maurizio Zamperini.
"Palermo announce that Walter Zenga has been relieved of his duties as first team coach," a statement said on the club website.
Zenga had made a decent start to the season with mid-table Palermo, so much so that media reports were even talking him up as a future successor to Inter coach Jose Mourinho.
Delio Rossi, who left Lazio at the end of last season, is the bookmakers' favourite to replace Zenga.
Coach sackings in Italian soccer have reached record levels this season and bottom side Siena are poised to dismiss Marco Baroni after less than a month in the job, media reports say.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, November 23, 2009, 16:48