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Mariani becomes CSKA assistant

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New FC CSKA Sofia coach Luigi Simoni has recruited Feruccio Mariani as his assistant.

New FC CSKA Sofia coach Luigi Simoni has recruited former Pisa Calcio player Feruccio Mariani as his assistant after Giuseppe Bergomi rejected the opportunity to join him in the Bulgarian capital.

Nikodimov sacked
The 62-year-old Italian Simoni, who counts Internazionale FC and Torino Calcio among his former clubs, signed a two-and-a-half year contract with CSKA ten days ago following the sacking of Asparuh Nikodimov.

Champions League ambitions
Sasho Borisov, Nikodimov's assistant, also lost his job as the club offered Simoni a platform from which executive director Lazar Vassilev hopes he will lead CSKA to their first A PFG title since 1997 and into the UEFA Champions League. Simoni initially turned to Bergomi, his former Inter captain, but the Italian defensive legend resisted the offer, prompting the move for Mariani.

Winter camp
CSKA's winter camp will start on 5 January, when the team will meet at the Coverciano training centre in Italy. Currently second in the table, three points behind leaders PFC Levski Sofia, CSKA will play a friendly with Pisa as part of their preparation for the second half of Bulgarian Professional League.

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