"Manager eater" Palermo chief Zamparini resigns
The trigger-happy president of the Serie A club has has walked away with immediate effect. Palermo to announce a replacement within 15 days.
Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini will stand down from his role at the Serie A strugglers after 15 years, the club has announced.
Having sacked countless head coaches - including no fewer than 10 changes in the past year - Zamparini earned the nickname mangia-allenatori (manager-eater) but has now walked away, with Palermo to announce a replacement within 15 days amid a potential takeover, it was confirmed on Monday.
Zamparini era
Zamparini purchased Palermo when they were in Serie B in 2002 and he guided the Sicilian-based club to Italy's top flight in 2003-04.
The 75-year-old leaves with Palermo languishing in 18th place, seven points adrift of safety after 26 rounds.
"President Maurizio Zamparini announces that he has tendered his resignation," a statement read. "Within 15 days a new president will be appointed, who will be presented at a press conference in Palermo."
"Return the club to the position the city deserves"
"The new president is a representative of an Anglo-American fund, which is under contract to invest in the projects of Gruppo Zamparini with initial investment priorities for Palermo Calcio, namely the stadium and the training ground."
"The objective of the investors is to return the club to the position the city deserves, EUROPE [sic], with a three- to five-year program."