Udinese, a Serie A team in danger of relegation, fired manager Gabriele Cioffi on Monday.

The team was in third place in the standings until 48-year-old Italian manager Cioffi took over in October, but the Italian was unable to improve the team’s situation.

Despite having a game in hand, Udinese is currently in the relegation zone, level on 28 points with Frosinone, who are in third place and have lost three of their past four league games.

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“Udinese Calcio announces that it has relieved Gabriele Cioffi from the position of head coach of the first team,” the club said in a statement.

“To the coach the (club gives) thanks for the professionalism shown and the work done during these months (and offers) to him the best wishes for the continuation of his career.”

According to Italian media, former Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro, who has coached several sides in China plus Serie B team Benevento, is Udinese’s preferred choice to replace Cioffi.

The remaining 18 minutes of Udinese’s April 14 home game with AS Roma, which was suspended with the score at 1-1 after visiting defender Evan Ndicka collapsed on the pitch, has been scheduled for April 25.