Fiorentina sack Mihajlovic, hire Rossi

Fiorentina have sacked coach Sinisa Mihajlovic and installed Delio Rossi as his replacement, the club announced tonight. The move comes after yesterday's 1-0 defeat to Chievo which left Fiorentina in 13th place in Serie A. Former Lazio and Palermo boss Rossi has signed a deal until the end of the 2012-2013 season, according to a statement on the club's official website. The statement read: "ACF Fiorentina announce a change in the technical leader of the first team. To Sinisa Mihajlovic, who has held this role with dedication and professionalism, we offer our most heartfelt thanks and best wishes from the club and we know his career will continue with satisfaction and well-deserved success. "A special thanks goes to the technical staff who worked with him," it continued. "Delio Rossi will be the new coach, with an agreement to lead the first team until June 30, 2013." Following yesterday's defeat, Mihajlovic had seemed resigned to his fate, telling, Gazzetta dello Sport: "Whether I stay or I leave does not depend on me. My conscience is clear, I am calm, it will be for the club to decide.'' Mihajlovic had been handed the club's backing after he was booed by a section of the crowd during last weekend's 1-0 win over Genoa. But Sunday's defeat in Verona was Fiorentina's fourth in the campaign and kept them winless away from home. Mihajlovic had led the Viola to ninth place last season and a European place was the target this term. Rossi will begin his tenure with a match at home to AC Milan on November 19.