Cagliari sacks Diego Lopez as coach, rehires Pulga

Associated Press
Cagliari Uruguayan coach Diego Lopez follows a Serie A soccer match between Cagliari and Roma in Cagliari, Italy, Sunday, April 6, 2014. Roma moved within five points of Serie A leader Juventus as Mattia Destro scored his first-ever hat trick in a 3-1 win at Cagliari on Sunday. (AP Photo/Daniela Santoni)

CAGLIARI, Sardinia (AP) — Cagliari has sacked coach Diego Lopez, replacing him with former manager Ivo Pulga.

Cagliari President Massimo Cellino confirmed the decision Sunday night, shortly after a 3-1 loss at home to Roma.

The Sardinian club has lost four of its past five matches and won just three times since the start of 2014.

Cellino was reportedly on the verge of firing Lopez in February, but instead dismissed Pulga as assistant coach.

Pulga was in charge of Cagliari in the 2012-13 season, with Lopez as his assistant, before the duo swapped roles in July.

Lopez's dismissal is the 14th coaching change in Serie A this season, and the second in a matter of hours after Catania sacked coach Rolando Maran for the second time this campaign, replacing him with Maurizio Pellegrino.