Relegation threatened Sassuolo on Tuesday fired coach Eusebio Di Francesco with the team 18th in Serie A.

Last season Di Francesco took the unfashionable team from the Emilia-Romagna region into Italy's top flight for the first time in their history.

And just two weeks ago they stunned seven-time European champions AC Milan 4-3 despite going down 2-0 inside 13 minutes.

But it wasn't enough to save him following Sunday's 3-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Livorno.

Youth team coach Paolo Mandelli has taken "temporary" charge of the team, according to a statement released by the club.

Di Francesco's sacking becomes the 10th coaching change already this season in the increasingly tumultuous Serie A.

Rock-bottom Catania have even changed coaches twice, recalling Rolando Maran having originally replaced him with Luigi Di Canio.

Clarence Seedorf took the place of Massimiliano Allegri at Milan following their Sassuolo debacle.

The first victim of the season was Fabio Liverani at Genoa, replaced by Gian Piero Gasperini.