GARRY MONK is a shock name linked by Italian media to replace Andrea Pirlo at Sampdoria.
Monk managed in the Premier League with Swansea and later in the Championship with Leeds, Middlesbrough and Birmingham.
His last job was with Sheffield Wednesday but he was sacked in November 2020 as the club sat one place above bottom.
And despite not coaching for the last three years, he is a name on the shortlist to take over at Sampdoria, according to SampNews24.
Italian legend Pirlo is under fire with his side 19th in Serie B.
The former midfielder took over at ex-club Juventus in 2020 having coached their Under-23s.
He won the Italian cup with Juve in 2021 but the same year he left after securing a fourth-placed Champions League spot.
Pirlo moved to Turkey Fatih Karagumruk but he lasted just one season.
The 2006 World Cup winner has had an equally torrid time back in Italy with Sampdoria managing just one win in eight.
Sampdoria fans started to protest during the club’s loss to Catanzaro on Sunday.
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And after the defeat, Pirlo said: “It’s difficult to comment on these types of defeats after every game. We had taken the lead, then they managed to equalise with a half cross, with defensive indecision.
“Everything becomes more difficult, but we must not look for alibis, we know that this is the moment.
“We must not let our guard down, we must be more concentrated and try to get out of this situation together. We had the opportunities, but in football whoever scores goals wins and we were unable to do so.
“The situation at the moment is this, we must try to stay united and try to get out of it quickly. We must try to be positive and not get caught up in this fear that we see and feel when we play. At the moment we are fragile and cannot win.”
