Serie A side Livorno have sacked coach Franco Colomba and replaced him with former Milan midfielder Roberto Donadoni.

The decision to fire Colomba, comes in the wake of Sunday’s 4-2 defeat to Juventus. Nonetheless, it still came as a surprise, given that Colomba has overseen Livorno’s return to the top flight for the first time since 1949.

The club lie 15th in the 20-team division.

The club said that Donadoni, who did some coaching work at the club during their Serie B campaign two seasons ago, had signed an 18-month contract.

The 41-year-old, who was part of Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan legendary team in the late 1980s and early 1990s has also worked as coach of Serie B side Genoa.