Context:

Sampdoria, a Genoa-based football club, has been relegated to Serie C for the first time in their 78-year history following a tumultuous season marked by frequent managerial changes. The club finished 18th in Serie B after a goalless draw against Juve Stabia, falling just one point short of a relegation play-off spot secured by Salernitana. Andrea Pirlo, appointed as coach in 2023, was unable to guide the team back to Serie A, leading to his dismissal and subsequent replacements, including Andrea Sottil and Leonardo Semplici. The team's struggles were compounded by fan unrest, culminating in a 3-0 defeat by Frosinone, which led to Semplici's removal and Alberico Evani's appointment as the fourth coach of the season. Despite initial promise under Evani, including a victory over Cittadella, the team's performance did not improve enough to avoid relegation.

Dive Deeper:

• Sampdoria's relegation to Serie C marks a historic low for the club, which was founded in 1946 and previously enjoyed success, including a Serie A title in 1991. The club faced a challenging season with managerial instability, having four different coaches in an attempt to improve their fortunes.

• Andrea Pirlo, a World Cup winner, was brought in to lead the team back to the top tier but was dismissed after failing to achieve promotion and a poor start to the following season. His successors, Andrea Sottil and Leonardo Semplici, also struggled to improve the team's performance, leading to further changes in management.

• The team's poor results and frequent managerial changes led to growing dissatisfaction among fans, which was especially evident after a significant 3-0 home defeat by Frosinone. This defeat was a breaking point, resulting in the team bus being attacked by angry supporters, and Semplici being replaced by Alberico Evani.

• Under Evani, who was aided by club legend Attilio Lombardo and Roberto Mancini in an unofficial capacity, the team showed some early promise with a win over Cittadella. However, a series of draws and another loss meant that their efforts were insufficient to secure a place outside the relegation zone.

• Despite the efforts of multiple coaches and the involvement of club legends, Sampdoria could not manage a successful campaign to stay in Serie B, resulting in their first relegation to Serie C and highlighting the critical need for stability and effective leadership within the club.