New Sampdoria head coach Delio Rossi has recalled the emotional outpouring of the club's fans on their relegation last year that convinced him to take the job.
The ex-Lazio boss was asked to replace Ciro Ferrara on Monday afternoon, with a run of two wins from 14 games leaving promoted Samp just three points clear of the relegation zone.
Rossi was in charge of Palermo in May 2011 when a 2-1 away victory at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris consigned Sampdoria to Serie B for the first time since 2002.
And at his unveiling in Bogliasco today, the 52-year-old recalled the pull he felt towards the club and its fans on that day.
He told Gazzetta.it: "I hold this club in very high esteem and I hope to rise to the occasion.
"I have been approached several times by Sampdoria but the deal was not completed until yesterday. I decided to say yes immediately. We agreed over the phone and I signed up for six months.
"I know one thing that impressed me was the day of Sampdoria's relegation in 2011.
"I was coaching Palermo but I watched 20,000 fans applaud their relegated players and I thought to myself 'I want to come here'."
Rossi might have accepted the vacant position at Sampdoria in June had he not been serving a three-month suspension for his final actions as Fiorentina boss.
Rossi was sacked for attempting to punch midfielder Adem Ljajic when the Bosnian sarcastically applauded his own substitution.
He said: "It was a gesture that seemed more relevant than it probably was. I apologised for it, but my time there was over from that moment. I still have good memories of Florence."
Rossi's first assignment is a Serie A match against his former club Lazio at home this Saturday.
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