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Fabio Cannavaro has been tasked with saving Serie A strugglers Udinese from relegation after Gabriele Cioffi was sacked as head coach.

The former Ballon d'Or and World Cup winner was announced as the club's third coach of the season on Monday on a contract until the end of the season, shortly after it was confirmed Cioffi had been relieved of his duties.

Cioffi was re-appointed for a second spell with the club in October after Udinese parted ways with Andrea Sottil, but four wins from 23 matches have left the club hovering above the relegation zone.

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Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Hellas Verona, who are also in contention to go down, left the Zebrette outside of the bottom three on goal difference but with a game in hand over the sides beneath them.

That game is against AS Roma, who they were level with at 1-1 before a health scare for Giallorossi defender Evan Ndicka resulted in the abandonment of the game. The final 19 minutes plus stoppage time will be played out in Udine on Thursday in an unorthodox debut for Cannavaro.

Udinese is Cannavaro's first coaching role in Serie A and he will be hoping to kick-start his career in Italy following a disappointing first role on home soil last season.

The ex-centre back was sacked by Benevento in February 2023 with the club deep in Serie B relegation trouble. His replacement, Renato Stellone, was not able to save them from the drop.

Before that, Cannavaro's coaching had been focused in China, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He won titles at Al-Ahli, Guangzhou Evergrande and Tianjin Quanjian and had a brief period in charge of China's national team.

Cannavaro's first full match in charge will be away to Bologna, who are chasing UEFA Champions League qualification, this Sunday, before rounding off their campaign against Napoli, Lecce, Empoli and Frosinone.

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