Updated

Cagliari, Italy (SportsNetwork.com) - Cagliari announced on Wednesday that former defender Gianluca Festa will take charge of the club for the remainder of the season following the resignation of former boss Zdenek Zeman.

Zeman stepped down on Tuesday after a difficult spell with the club, leaving Festa to try and pull off a great escape from relegation.

With seven games to play, Cagliari resides in 19th place, nine points from safety, and the club faces a tough away trip to Fiorentina on Sunday in Festa's debut.

The 46-year-old Festa is the third manager at the club this season after Zeman and Gianfranco Zola, who lasted just 11 matches before being fired.