Alberto Cavasin will lead UC Sampdoria until the end of the season after Domenico Di Carlo departed in the wake of Sunday's 3-2 Serie A home defeat by AC Cesena.

The loss left the Blucerchiati just three points above the relegation zone, spelling the end of Di Carlo's nine-month spell at the helm. He had replaced Luigi Delneri in June with hopes high at the club following the previous season's fourth-place finish in the Italian top flight and with a UEFA Champions League play-off in prospect.

The Genoa outfit were edged out in extra time by play-off opponents SV Werder Bremen, however, and mustered one win in six UEFA Europa League games before bowing out at the group stage. Yet Di Carlo's charges made a steady start to their domestic campaign before the January departure of forwards Giampaolo Pazzini and Antonio Cassano heralded a downturn. Sampdoria have earned only eight points in their last 13 Serie A matches.

Di Carlo makes way for Cavasin, who was Serie A coach of the year in 1999/2000 when he was at US Lecce. The 55-year-old, who has been without a job since parting company with Swiss side AC Bellinzona last April, will hope to hit the ground running away to struggling Calcio Catania on Sunday.