PARMA, Italy (AP) — Relegation-threatened Parma hired Cristian Chivu as coach on Tuesday with the team 18th in the 20-team Serie A. Parma announced the appointment in a statement that did not specify contract details, but according to reports Chivu’s deal runs until the end of next season.

Former Romanian footballer Cristian Chivu will be Parma’s new manager after the Serie A team fired coach Fabio Pecchia, the football club announced. He is set to begin training the team at the Mutti Training Center on Tuesday,

Relegation-threatened Parma said Tuesday that they have appointed former AS Roma, Inter and Romania defender Cristian Chivu their new coach. The 44-year-old succeeds Fabio Pecchia, who was sacked after Sunday's 1-0 home defeat to Roma left Parma third-from-bottom in Serie A.