Soccer-Benevento fire coach Baroni after losing first nine matches

MILAN, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Benevento have fired coach Marco Baroni after becoming the first team in Serie A history to lose their first nine matches of the season.

The club announced that 54-year-old Baroni, who led them out of Serie B last season and into the top flight for the first time, would be replaced by Roberto De Zerbi.

"The club thanks Baroni for his professionalism and the great emotions that he brought to Benevento football club, the fans and the city, with promotion to Serie A," the club said in a statement.

Benevento set their unwanted record by losing 3-0 at home to Fiorentina on Sunday. They have scored only two goals in their nine games and conceded 22.

De Zerbi, 38, had two seasons in charge of Foggia, narrowly missing out on promotion. His only previous experience of coaching in Serie A was a three-month spell at Palermo last season.

Benevento are the second club this season to change coach after Cagliari - who they visit in their next league match on Wednesday. (Reporting by Brian Homewood; editing by Sudipto Ganguly)