Salernitana, 19th in Serie A with just three points, have sacked coach Paulo Sousa and replaced him with former Italy international Filippo Inzaghi.

"Salernitana announces that it has relieved Mr. Paulo Sousa of his duties as first team coach," the club announced on social media late Tuesday.

"The club announces that it has reached an agreement with Mr. Filippo Inzaghi and will entrust him shortly with the technical guidance of the first team."

The much-travelled Sousa joined Salernitana in February and guided them to 15th place and Serie A survival.

This season, the club failed to win in their first eight matches. Their last two games ended in  a 4-0 defeat at home to Inter and a 3-0 loss at Monza.

Sousa is the second Serie A coach to be sacked this season, after Empoli released Paolo Zanetti.

Inzaghi, a member of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad, has had a far less succesful coaching career than his younger brother, Simone, a 2023 Champions League finalist with Inter Milan.

Filippo had been without a job since guiding Reggina to second in Serie B last season. He was released, along with the playing staff, after the club were thrown out of the league for financial irregularities.

He has had stints as coach at AC Milan, Venezia and Brescia, without winning any trophies.

Italian media said he has committed himself to Salernitana until the end of the season but his contract will be automatically extended by a further year if he keeps the club in the top flight.