Davide Nicola has been named new coach of Genoa.

Genoa have sacked Thiago Motta and brought in their third coach of the season, hiring Nicola for six months with option to extend.

The former Crotone and Udinese boss arrived in the port city on Friday evening to work out the final details of the contract with president Enrico Preziosi.

It is a return to Genoa for 46-year-old Nicola, who was a player for six seasons from 1995-98 and again from 1999-2002.

Preziosi turned to Nicola after Davide Ballardini refused to return for a fourth spell unless the president apologised for several very insulting comments made when he was last dismissed in October 2018.