Stefano Pioli Fired by Inter; Stefano Vecchi Named Interim Manager

Inter Milan have sacked head coach Stefano Pioli, per a statement from the club's official website. Academy coach Stefano Vecchi has been placed in interim charge, per the statement.

The statement also noted how Pioli's technical staff have been let go as well: "Inter thanks Stefano and his team for the dedication and hard work carried out at the Club over the last six months in what has proven to be a difficult season."

It's a decision that's hardly surprising, even though Pioli has only been in charge since November, after replacing the fired Frank de Boer. Yet the Nerazzurri have struggled mightily on former Lazio chief Pioli's watch recently.

In fact, OptaPaolo revealed how much Inter's form has slumped, following Sunday's 1-0 loss in Genoa:

The result left 2010's UEFA Champions League winners seventh in Serie A, three points behind city rivals AC Milan. Inter are also nine points adrift of the European places in Italy's top flight.

Pioli's failure to get Inter going is somewhat surprising considering the talent in the squad. Players such as prolific Croatian wide forward Ivan Perisic and French midfield destroyer Geoffrey Kondogbia, sent off against Genoa, are good enough to play for any top European club.

Yet Pioli's dismissal is just another sad chapter in a dismal season where De Boer was the first managerial casualty. This is now the second time Vecchi will assume control as interim boss, after was appointed on the same basis when De Boer was been sacked following only 85 days in the job.

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Now Football-Italia.net has revealed Inter are considering Chelsea's Antonio Conte, Atletico Madrid man Diego Simeone and AS Roma boss Luciano Spalletti for the permanent job.