Rome (AFP) - Struggling Udinese became the fifth Serie A club to change coaches this season on Monday after sacking Kosta Runjaic and appointing Paolo Zanetti until the end of the campaign.

Runjaic paid the price for a dismal run of form that saw Udinese lose seven of their last eight league matches, plunging the club into the relegation places after successive mid-table finishes in the previous two seasons.

Monday’s decision followed a heavy 5-2 home defeat to early-season title challengers Roma at the weekend.

“The club and the coach part ways after more than two years marked by the achievement of important objectives,” Udinese said in a statement.

Udinese, who have just five points after 10 matches, acted swiftly by handing former Venezia, Empoli and Verona coach Zanetti the challenge of reviving their form.

Runjaic is the latest coaching casualty this season in Italy’s top flight, following the departures of Fabio Grosso at Fiorentina, Domenico Tedesco at Bologna, Carlos Cuesta at Parma and Davide Nicola at Venezia.