Davide Nicola has been appointed as the new coach of Venezia FC, confirms the club's office in an official communication published on 15 October 2024. The coach, born in Luserna San Giovanni in 1973, has signed a contract with immediate effect which binds him to the club until the end of the 2027-28 season. The decision comes after six consecutive defeats in the first Serie A matches, which pushed Venezia to terminate Giovanni Stroppa's contract and look for a safety expert.
Nicola brings with him long experience in managing teams in difficulty. After starting his coaching career with Lumezzane in Serie C, he led Livorno in Serie B, obtaining promotion to Serie A, and then worked with Bari, Crotone, Udinese, Genoa, Turin, Salernitana, Empoli and Cagliari. In particular, he achieved three saves in Serie A with Crotone, Torino and Salernitana, demonstrating that he knows how to cope with the pressures of a season of salvation. His last experience was with Cremonese, where he worked until March 2026, before accepting the offer from Venezia.
The club also announced the arrival of three new collaborators to complete the technical staff. Manuele Cacicia will be the technical collaborator, Gabriele Stoppino will take care of the athletic preparation and Lorenzo Squizzi will be the goalkeeper coach. These figures will have to support Nicola in building a team capable of achieving the main objective: salvation from Serie B.
In his first speech to the club's microphones, Nicola explained the reasons for his choice. He underlined Venezia's long-term vision, the desire to build a competitive team and growth prospects. He also highlighted the importance of the presence of the director Antonelli, already known, who made Nicola feel wanted and motivated. "I saw the team play and I felt a positive chemistry between the players. I am enthusiastic and hungry to use my experience to reach safety," he declared. Nicola closed his speech by recalling that his goal is to "give emotions and write pages of history that remain over time", a message that aims to involve both players and fans.
With the arrival of Nicola, Venezia is preparing for a new season of struggle. The club aims to consolidate its position in Serie A, avoiding returning to Serie B. The next few weeks will be crucial for defining the squad and implementing Nicola's strategies, who will have to demonstrate that he can transform the team into a competitive reality and ready to defend its position in the top flight.