Zaccheroni quits Inter
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Article summary
Alberto Zaccheroni has resigned as coach of FC Internazionale after only eight months in charge.
Article body
Good start
The former AC Milan and S.S. Lazio coach enjoyed a successful start to his spell in charge of Inter after replacing Héctor Cúper in October, winning six of his first seven Serie A matches.
Drop in form
But a drop in form saw his side quickly fall out of the title race, eventually finishing fourth and only narrowly clinching the final UEFA Champions League qualifying place with victory on the last day of the season.
Moratti exit
Zaccheroni's departure comes on the heels of that of former president Massimo Moratti, who stepped down in January amid protests over the club's poor form.
Bad defeats
Inter failed to progress beyond the first stage of the Champions League, during which they were thrashed 5-1 at home by Arsenal FC, and also endured a 3-2 league defeat against rivals AC Milan - having led 2-0 at one stage.
Title wait continues
Zaccheroni, who won the Scudetto as coach of Milan in 1999, was the tenth coach at Inter since Moratti became president in February 1995, but he could not end the club's wait for the title which they have not won since 1989.
Mancini favourite
Lazio coach Roberto Mancini has been mentioned in media reports as a candidate to replace Zaccheroni. Lazio finished sixth in Serie A last season and won the Coppa Italia.
