Serie A side Udinese sacked their coach Julio Velazquez on Tuesday and appointed Davide Nicola in a bid to arrest a seven-match losing sequence.

Sunday's latest 2-1 loss to Empoli left them in 17th, above the relegation zone on goal difference alone.

The 45-year-old Nicola, manager of Crotone in the 2016-2017 season, takes over a side that has mustered just nine points from 12 outings.