Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
Just five games into the 2013/2014 Premier League season, Sunderland have decided that’s it’s time for a change.
Sunderland announced on Sunday afternoon that they have parted ways with Paolo Di Canio, one day after a third successive loss that left the club bottom of the table with only one point this season. Reserve team coach Kevin Ball will manage the side on Tuesday when the Black Cats face Peterborough United in the League Cup.
Following the 3-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, Di Canio walked over to the traveling Sunderland support and made a few gestures towards the fans, seeming to tell them to keep their chins up and continue supporting the club, while acknowledging that the team hadn’t played well this season. It’s likely that these actions, in addition with his other antics while manager, accelerated his departure from the club.
The former Lazio and Italy striker brought in 14 players including U.S. Men’s National Team forward Jozy Altidore this summer after saving the club late last season from relegation to the Championship.
Altidore has made four Premier League appearances so far this season, three of them starts, though his only goal in a Sunderland shirt came in the last round of the League Cup.
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What do you think of this news? Are you surprised that Sunderland fired Di Canio so quickly? What does this mean for Altidore’s future at the club?
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