Sassuolo have appointed Roberto D'Aversa as head coach on a contract until 30 June 2027, the Serie A club announced on Tuesday, a day after sacking Alberto Aquilani. The 51-year-old takes charge of his first training session on Tuesday afternoon.
What Sassuolo announced
The club statement confirmed D'Aversa's deal and named his backroom team: Salvatore Sullo as assistant coach, Marco Piccioni and Marco Riggio as technical assistants, Paolo Rongoni, Francesco Petrungaro, Andrea Rinaldi and Simone Vignudelli as fitness coaches, and Marco Bizzarri as goalkeeping coach.
D'Aversa will be presented to the media on Thursday, 12 November, at the Mapei Football Center, Sassuolo's training base.
Why Aquilani was sacked
Sassuolo dismissed Aquilani and his staff on Monday, 9 November, two days after a 3-0 defeat away to Roma. He left the club 17th in Serie A with 8 points from 11 matches, having won two, drawn two and lost seven, and only one point above the relegation zone.
The Neroverdi have taken just one point from their last seven league games, a draw with Milan. Sky Sport Italia counts Aquilani as the sixth Serie A coach to lose his job this season.
Who is Roberto D'Aversa?
D'Aversa, born in Stuttgart in 1975, made his name at Parma, where he won promotion from Serie C and then from Serie B in consecutive seasons. He has since coached Sampdoria, Lecce and Empoli in Serie A.
His most recent job was at Torino, where he replaced Marco Baroni in February 2026 and stayed until the end of last season. Corriere dello Sport reports that Sassuolo chose him ahead of Vincenzo Montella, and Sky Sport Italia says he was at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday to watch the defeat by Roma.
What happens next?
The international break gives D'Aversa almost two weeks with the squad before his first match. Sassuolo host Genoa, coached by Daniele De Rossi, at the Mapei Stadium on Sunday, 22 November, in what is already a relegation six-pointer.
For more coaching changes, read how Real Oviedo appointed Raúl González after sacking Julián Calero, and follow the latest from Italy in our Serie A news.
Follow BetAlert: Telegram · WhatsApp · Discord — and check any betting account for free at BetAlert.