Davide Nicola Takes Charge of Venezia with Ambitions to Secure Serie A Survival and Build for the Future

Venezia have officially appointed Davide Nicola as their new head coach, hoping his experience in rescuing struggling teams will help turn their season around. The club have endured a difficult start to the campaign, failing to collect any points so far, and are counting on Nicola to restore confidence and improve results. He has signed a two-year contract that runs until the end of the 2027–28 season, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Lagunari.

Nicola replaces Giovanni Stroppa, who was dismissed following Venezia’s 3–1 defeat to Atalanta. Stroppa had previously guided the club back to Italy’s top flight in May, but the management decided to make a coaching change ahead of their next fixture against Napoli. The appointment of Nicola reflects Venezia’s desire to address their immediate struggles while laying the groundwork for a more stable future.

Throughout his managerial career, Nicola has earned a reputation for helping teams escape relegation trouble. He guided Crotone to safety, lifted Genoa away from the bottom of the standings, and achieved similar results with Torino and Salernitana during the 2021–22 season. He also helped Empoli retain their Serie A status after arriving in January 2024 and led Cagliari to a 15th-place finish in the 2024–25 campaign. However, his spell at Cremonese ended in March while the team occupied third place from the bottom, demonstrating the challenges that can accompany such rescue missions.

Nicola was attracted to Venezia by the club’s long-term ambitions and the opportunity to build a competitive team. His existing relationship with sporting director Antonelli also played a role in his decision, as their familiarity helped establish trust between the coach and the club. Nicola is eager to return to the touchline and pursue meaningful achievements, with a particular emphasis on creating a strong connection between the team and its supporters while establishing a legacy that Venezia fans can remember.

To support the new manager, Venezia have assembled a technical staff that includes assistant coach Manuele Cacicia, fitness coach Gabriele Stoppino, and goalkeeping coach Lorenzo Squizzi. Together, they will work to improve the squad’s physical condition, tactical organisation, and overall consistency. The immediate priority is to move Venezia away from the relegation zone, but Nicola’s appointment also signals a broader ambition to develop the team and establish a stronger foundation for the club’s future in Serie A.