'Best option' De Biasi to assume Albania reins

The Football Association of Albania (FShF) has announced that Giovanni De Biasi will become the country's new national team coach, replacing Josip Kuže.

The Italian tactician is to take charge of Albania's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign after their attempts to reach UEFA EURO 2012 faltered under Kuže's leadership. Albania finished fifth in qualifying Group D with nine points from ten matches, prompting the decision to curtail Croatian boss Kuže two-and-a-half-year reign.

Although this is De Biasi's first international appointment, the 55-year-old has more than 20 years' coaching experience, most famously guiding Modena FC to consecutive promotions. He also returned Torino FC to the Italian top flight in one of his three stints managing the Granata.

The former FC Internazionale Milano, Brescia Calcio and US Città di Palermo midfielder has also worked in the Spanish Liga as boss of Levante UD, and most recently occupied the Udinese Calcio helm for three months of the 2009/10 season.

"De Biasi was the best option for what we were looking for," said FShF president Armand Duka. The new coach will be officially appointed at a media conference in the coming days. Albania will face Cyprus, Iceland, Norway, Slovenia and Switzerland in World Cup qualifying Group E.