Bologna part ways with coach Sinisa Mihajlovic

Sinisa Mihajlovic was ousted on Tuesday from his post as coach of Bologna, which he had held for more than three and a half years marked by his fight against leukemia, after five days without a victory in Serie A, announced the Italian club.

“Today the professional relationship between Bologna and Sinisa Mihajlovic is interruptedthe club wrote in a statement. This decision has unfortunately become inevitable, despite the strong emotional bond that has been created with the club and the whole city during these exciting and dramatic three and a half years. »

The 53-year-old former Serbian international and Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter player returned to the Bologna bench in January 2019 after a first experience in 2008-2009. This new passage was marked by mixed rankings, in the middle of the table, but above all by his fight against leukemia which he has been leading since 2019. He had been hospitalized again for several weeks at the end of last season, to undergo a new treatment because of a risk of relapse. But he had resumed his place on the bench at the start of the season.

Thiago Motta to succeed him?

Despite the aura he enjoys in Bologna, Sinisa Mihajlovic could not resist the performances of his team at the start of the season (16th in the standings with 3 points). More than the two defeats against Lazio (1-2) and AC Milan (0-2), it disappointed in the last two matches against opponents in theory more within its reach, Salernitana (1-1) and La Spezia (2-2) on Sunday.

“Unfortunately, even cycles that have brought sporting satisfactions like this can dull and lose the initial flame”underlined the club, thanking Mihajlovic and his deputies for coping with their work « in extraordinary and very delicate conditions from a human point of view ».

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Thiago Motta, without a bench since leaving La Spezia in June, would be among the candidates approached to succeed Mihajlovic, the first coach sacked this season. Bologna will host Fiorentina next Sunday on Matchday 6 of Serie A.