Patrick Vieira appointed Genoa head coach as he reunites for fourth time with Mario Balotelli after Nice fallout

Patrick Vieira is back in the dugout - and back with Mario Balotelli. Vieira has been appointed as head coach of Serie A side Genoa after Alberto Gilardino was sacked. Balotelli, who joined Genoa last month, played with Vieira at Manchester City and Inter Milan, and also worked with him when he was in charge of Nice, but in the latter instance the pair seemingly didn't always see eye to eye.

Patrick Vieira has made his return to management as head coach of Genoa.

The former Arsenal midfielder has replaced Alberto Gilardino in the dugout at the Serie A club.

Gilardino was fired after Genoa took 10 points from their opening 12 league matches of the season, leaving them a point above the relegation zone.

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Vieira has been out of work since leaving Strasbourg in July.

The move to Genoa reunites Vieira with former Manchester City and Inter Milan team-mate Mario Balotelli, who joined as a free agent last month.

The pair also worked together when Vieira was in charge of Nice - and seemingly didn't always see eye to eye.

Speaking earlier this year, Balotelli said about Vieira: "I lived in Villefranche, and it was crazy. I was smiling every day, I went to the sea every day. It was a dream life.

Mario Balotelli (R) with Patrick Vieira at Manchester City

Image credit: Getty Images

"The problem was that the way Vieira played didn't really suit me. I got along well with him, but on sporting matters, I didn't agree. If I hadn't had these problems with him, I would never have left Nice."

Vieira suggested that he found it tough to work with the forward.

"Mario's mindset was difficult for a collective sport," he said to the Daily Mail in 2020.

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"The philosophy I wanted to put in place, the togetherness and work ethic I wanted to build, it was difficult for me to work with a player like Mario. It was really difficult for both of us to work together, so we decided to go different ways."

Vieira's managerial career started at New York City in 2016.

He took over Nice in 2018 before a spell with Crystal Palace, who he led to the FA Cup semi-final in 2022.

Vieira was sacked as Palace boss in March 2023 after a 12-game winless run.

A few months later he joined Strasbourg, where he spent just one season.

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