ROME Former Italy manager Arrigo Sacchi resigned as coach of Serie A club Parma on Thursday after just 23 days in charge.

Parma said on their official Website that Sacchi had stepped down for personal reasons and would be replaced by former Bologna and Napoli boss Renzo Ulivieri.

They said Sacchi would hold a news conference at the Tardini Stadium at 12:00 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Friday before Ulivieri was officially presented as Parma's third coach of the season.

Sacchi was not on the bench for Parma's 2-1 Italian cup semifinal first leg defeat at Udinese, which finished just as the club made their announcement.

Parma said he was suffering a slight illness and Italian media reported the former AC Milan coach, who took over from Alberto Malesani on January 9, was suffering stress.

Parma took the lead in the sixth minute of the tie through Brazilian striker Amoroso but Udinese midfielder Massimo Margiotta hit two late goals to give the northeasterners the edge going into next week's second leg match.

Sacchi was on the bench at Parma for just three league matches and his side, which slumped to the bottom half of the table under Malesani, were undefeated.

They drew his first two matches with Inter Milan and at home to Lecce before beating Verona 2-0 last Sunday.

The coach's decision to quit was even more unexpected than his appointment last month.

(Reuter)