Del Neri back at Chievo

Chievo President Luca Campedelli (left) with Gigi Del Neri.

Giuseppe Pillon has been sacked as coach of struggling Chievo, with Gigi Del Neri returning to the Flying Donkeys' bench.

The Veronese outfit confirmed the news with an official statement on the club’s website, but the change on the bench was not a total shock after Sunday’s defeat at Torino.

The Gialloblu have not had an easy start in the season, failing to qualify for the Champions League group stage after losing to Levski Sofia, and becoming the only Italian casualty in the first round of the UEFA Cup.

Chievo are also rooted to the lower positions in the Serie A table with only one point earned and have yet to net their first win after the opening six matches.

Gigi Del Neri is a well-known name in Verona, where he coached Chievo from 2000 to 2004, giving birth to the so called “miracle Chievo”, leading the team to promotion to Serie A and then earning a historical qualification for the UEFA Cup in 2002.

In the summer of 2004, Del Neri was signed by Champions League holders Porto, but as in Empoli in 1998, he was fired before his debut.

He then moved to Roma in October 2004 but left his place on the bench in March 2005 after a disappointing season for the Giallorossi.

Last year he accepted an offer from Palermo and despite a good start was fired in January after a home defeat to Siena.

Del Neri will make his second debut on the Chievo bench against his former club Roma on Sunday, when the Flying Donkeys visit the Stadio Olimpico.

[Serie A 2006-07 Managerial Changes]