Patrick Vieira is reportedly back in management after four months away as he has been appointed the new Genoa manager.
Vieira stepped down from his role at Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg in July after completing just one year of a three-year deal at the Ligue 1 side.
His one campaign in charge of the the BlueCo owned team saw them finish 13th out of 18 teams in France’s top tier.
Vieria’s departure mirrored that of Mauricio Pochettino, who left Chelsea in the summer by mutual consent after 12 months in charge.
Now the Frenchman is set to return to the dugout in Serie A, replacing Alberto Gilardino at Genoa, according to Relevo.
The Italian side are looming just above the relegation zone in 17th position, winning just two of their opening 12 matches.
Patrick Vieira is seemingly set to return to management with relegation-threatened Genoa
Vieira looks set to replace Alberto Gilardino who has been Genoa boss since December 2022
Genoa currently sit a lowly 17th in Serie A, just a solitary position above the relegation zone
Former Italian striker Gilardino has been in charge at Genoa, who he played for between 2012 and 2014, since December 2022.
Last season, he guided them to a respectable 11th-placed finish, just one position behind Napoli who won the Scudetto a year prior.
However, just 10 points from a possible 36 this season has left his role at risk, and it now seems as though Vieira will replace him.
It would be the 48-year-old’s fifth position in management following his retirement from playing the game in 2011.
The former Arsenal captain started his coaching journey at Manchester City before being appointed head coach at MLS side New York City in 2016.
A spell at Nice followed before Vieira returned to the Premier League to take charge of Crystal Palace.
He spent just under two years at the helm in south London before being sacked in March 2023 after a 12-match winless run.
Since leaving Strasbourg, Vieira has been linked with several jobs, including the United States National team, however, Pochettino took up that position in September.
Vieira will reunite with former team-mate Mario Balotelli who joined Genoa only last month
The pair fell out while Vieira was Balotelli’s boss at Nice and the striker’s contract was terminated
The Frenchman is now set to link back up with his former City team-mate, Mario Balotelli, who joined last month.
The pair do not have the best relationship due to Balotelli’s behaviour while at Nice, back when Vieira was in charge.
In 2018, there was a falling out between the two due to the Italian appearing out of shape when turning up late to Vieira’s first training session. He made just 10 appearances under the French before seeing his contract terminated.
Speaking at the time, Vieira said: ‘When it comes to Mario, I want to answer back, or just slam him up against the wall, or leave him hanging by his collar on the coat rack.’