Parma have appointed Cristian Chivu as manager to replace Fabio Pecchia, the Serie A club said on Tuesday, for what is the 44-year-old Romanian’s first senior coaching role.

Parma turn to Chivu after sacking Pecchia as they fell into the bottom three due to a prolonged skid.

The decision to sack the coach, who had only extended his contract with the club at the end of October, came after a series of poor results — Parma is on a seven-match winless streak in Serie A and currently sits near the bottom of the league table.

The former Romanian international starred for Roma and Inter for a decade during his playing days, accumulating 200 appearances in the Italian league. He contributed to the treble with the Nerazzurri in 2010.

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“Chivu, alongside his staff made up of Antonio Gagliardi (assistant manager), Angelo Palombo (technical assistant) and Nicola Pavarini (goalkeeper coach), will begin training with the team as of this afternoon at the Mutti Training Center,” Parma said in a statement.

He has signed a contract until June 2026.

The Gialloblu have not won a league game since late December and currently sit 18th, one point adrift of safety.

The former defender will make his debut on a Serie A bench in the Emilian derby with Bologna on Saturday. Parma are 18th in Serie A on 20 points after 25 games, but are only one point off Empoli in 17th, outside the relegation places.

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