Rome - Serie A strugglers Bologna switched coach for the second time this season, calling up veteran Giuseppe Papadopulo to replace Serb Sinisa Mihajlovic, the club's website reported Tuesday. Bologna mildly improved their standing after former star defender Mihajlovic took over from Daniele Arrigoni in November, but at the weekend sank into the three-team drop zone after suffering a fourth straight defeat.

The central-Italy club lie third-from-last, one point behind Torino, with seven games left. Lecce trail two points adrift, while Reggina have six points less than Bologna.

Papadopulo, 61, is himself a former defender. In his 21-year coaching career he obtained three promotions to the Serie B and two to the top flight.

Palermo, Chievo, Napoli and Lecce replaced the coach they started the season with, while Torino and Reggina changed coach twice. (dpa)