Atalanta sack coach Palladino with Sarri set to arrive

Atalanta have sacked Raffaele Palladino, the Serie A club said on Tuesday, ahead of the widely expected arrival of Maurizio Sarri.

In a statement, Atalanta said that Palladino had been "relieved of his duties as first team coach" after less than a season in the job.

Palladino, 42, was hired by Atalanta in November following the sacking of Ivan Juric in the hope of pushing for a top-four finish.

However he could only lead Atalanta to seventh in Serie A, some 12 points away from the Champions League places, and the Italian Cup semifinals.

That is a far cry from the sort of performance fans and club management had come to expect during the nine-season tenure of Gian Piero Gasperini.

Palladino cut his coaching teeth at Monza, first with the youth teams before taking charge of the first team in 2022 and competing in two seasons in the top flight.

He then joined Fiorentina in the summer of 2024, finishing sixth in Serie A before surprisingly departing after only one season in charge.

Last month Sarri left Lazio for the second time in just over two years after a disastrous season in which the Rome-based club finished ninth and lost in the Italian Cup final.

The 67-year-old is reported to be announced as Atalanta coach in the next few days.