Serie A strugglers Salernitana have appointed Paulo Sousa as their new head coach after parting company with Davide Nicola for the second time in a month.

Nicola was rehired on January 18 just two days after departing the club, but three defeats in four league games since then has led to another parting of the ways.

Salernitana confirmed the news on their official website on Wednesday, with the announcement of Sousa's arrival following moments later.

Sousa takes charge of his 12th different club, and his second in the Italian top flight following a two-year spell at Fiorentina.

The 52-year-old more recently managed Poland at Euro 2020 and spent six months with Flamengo before being dismissed in June.

Salernitana are 16th in Serie A, five points above the relegation zone with 16 games to play.

Fellow strugglers Spezia also parted company with head coach Luca Gotti on Wednesday after collecting just one point from their past four matches.

Flamengo have parted company with Paulo Sousa just six months after appointing him as head coach.

Sousa jumped ship from his role as Poland boss to take over at Flamengo at the end of last year.

The former Portugal midfielder signed a two-year deal, but has been relieved of his duties following back-to-back Serie A defeats for the Rio de Janeiro giants

Flamengo are languishing in 14th place after they were beaten 1-0 by Bragantino on Thursday, a loss that came following a 2-1 defeat to Fortaleza.

Polish FA president Cezary Kulesza accused Sousa of being "disrespectful" after he left his role as Poland head coach to move to Brazil.

Sousa had been in charge of Bordeaux before taking the Poland job.

Paulo Sousa has been accused of being "disrespectful" after he left his role as Poland head coach to take charge of Flamengo.

Sousa only landed the Poland job in January after the dismissal of Jerzy Brzeczek.

The former Portugal midfielder asked to vacate his position earlier this week, having received an offer from Brazilian club Flamengo

Polish FA president Cezary Kulesza described Sousa's request to jump ship as being "extremely irresponsible" before a decision was made to terminate his contract.

Sousa was confirmed as Flamengo boss soon after his exit from the Poland job was announced and Kulesza made his feelings over the 51-year-old's conduct very clear.

"Working with the Polish national team is a great honour and privilege," Kulesza said in a statement. 

"Therefore, we could not agree to such a disrespectful approach by the coach to the players and co-workers, and above all to the millions of fans for whom the national team is sacred.

"The function of the coach of the Polish national team must be performed by a person who, apart from appropriate experience and skills, has respect for this position.

"We treat this situation as a valuable lesson for the entire football community in order to properly arrange cooperation with the new coach from the very beginning."

Sousa, meanwhile, revealed his joy and excitement at Flamengo, who finished second in Brazil's Serie A this year.

"This is a message addressed to the greatest fans in the world," Sousa said to Flamengo's official website. "I [have] great pride and satisfaction in representing a club of incomparable beauty like Flamengo.

"It is time now to work hard to give joy and titles to the 40 million fans around the world. We will play and win together."

Sweden can win Group E by recording a sixth consecutive victory against Poland, but their opponents are focused heading into a matchday three "final".

The pool leaders have a dominant recent record in meetings with Poland, winning nine of their past 11 games and each of the previous five.

Poland have not beaten Sweden since 1991, although they were victors in the only previous major tournament clash at the 1974 World Cup.

Either way, Poland coach Paulo Sousa insists he is not concerned by past results ahead of Wednesday's game in St Petersburg.

"It is true that, from a statistical point of view, Sweden have a better record against Poland," Sousa said. "But if we look at the past, we won't move forward. We are only focused on what is now.

"Sweden are a perfect team. They press very well, they are good in set-pieces. There is huge diversity in their play."

Sousa added: "For us, it is like a final. We have been working hard since the first day of our training camp to be prepared."

Following a draw with Spain and narrow victory over Slovakia, Sweden are aiming to go an entire group stage without conceding for the first time since 1974.

And they do not intend to take their foot off the gas now.

Captain Sebastian Larsson said: "It's nice to be through to the round of 16 already after just two games, but we want more. Of course we'll go for the group win."

Despite Sweden's strong defensive record, this game should at least deliver goals. The sides' previous 26 meetings have not yielded a single 0-0 draw.
 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sweden – Alexander Isak

Sousa described Sweden forward Isak as "one of the best players in Europe when it comes to counter-attacks". The striker completed six dribbles against Slovakia, although Sweden have not had a single fast break yet at the tournament. That may change against Poland, who will have to push forward in pursuit of all three points.

Poland – Robert Lewandowski

Having so often failed to make an impact on the international stage, dominant Bayern Munich goalscorer Lewandowski turned up against Spain. A stunning header meant he has been involved in 14 goals in his past 12 starts for his country. Another Lewandowski goal would make him Poland's outright leading Euros scorer on four.
 

KEY OPTA FACTS

– Sweden and Poland's only previous encounter at a major tournament came in the second round of the 1974 World Cup; Poland won 1-0, courtesy of Grzegorz Lato's solitary goal. The victors finished third – their joint-best performance at a major tournament – and Lato won the Golden Boot (seven goals).
– Poland have won just one of their past nine matches across all competitions (D4 L4), beating Andorra 3-0 in March. Indeed, Poland's ongoing five-match winless streak (D3 L2) is their longest since September to November 2018 (six games).
– Of Sweden's goals at the Euros, 88 per cent have been scored in the second half of games (23 of 26), the highest percentage of any side with at least three goals at the tournament.
– Poland have won their final group game in both of their last two major international tournaments (World Cup and Euros), beating Ukraine at Euro 2016 and Japan at the 2018 World Cup. Failing to win this match would be the first time Poland have not won any of their three group games at such a competition since Euro 2012.
– Sweden's Emil Forsberg has scored each of his nation's past two goals at major tournaments, netting winners in 1-0 victories over Switzerland at the 2018 World Cup and against Slovakia at Euro 2020. Forsberg has only scored in consecutive international appearances once previously, netting against France in November 2016 and Belarus in March 2017.

Paulo Sousa has been appointed as the new Poland head coach.

Former Portugal midfielder Sousa replaces Jerzy Brzeczek, who was surprisingly relieved of his duties on Monday.

Brzeczek was sacked despite Poland's qualification for Euro 2020 as Group G winners, having won eight of their 10 qualifying matches.

Sousa has been out of work since leaving his role as Bordeaux boss last August and was linked with the Juventus job before Andrea Pirlo landed the role.

The 50-year-old's appointment on Thursday came less than five months before Poland's first game of the rescheduled European Championship, with Slovakia their opponents in a Group E contest on June 14.

Sousa said: "I am honoured and proud to be the coach of the Polish national team. At the beginning, I would like to thank president [of the Polish Football Association] Zbigniew Boniek and the entire management board for the fact that I can take up such a great challenge.

"Poland is a country of football and I am convinced that your enthusiasm will give us strength, support and faith in the representation. Together, we will be able to fight for victories at the European Championship.

"With the right mentality, discipline, organisation and approach, together with me, my staff, federation employees and the support of the entire nation, we will be strong. I am sure that all of Poland will be proud of its national team."

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