Lazio land Mancini as coach
Wednesday, May 1, 2002
Article summary
Roberto Mancini is set to replace Alberto Zaccheroni as coach of S.S. Lazio from next season.
Article body
Roberto Mancini, the former Italian international, has accepted an offer from S.S. Lazio to take over from Alberto Zaccheroni as head coach of the Roman club for next season, according to reports in Italy.
Two-year deal
Even though a formal contract will only be signed next week, once Serie A has been concluded, Mancini is believed to have agreed a two-year contract with a salary of €1m per season.
New era
Lazio's president Sergio Cragnotti is looking to start a new era after a disappointing season for the club who were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League in the first group stage and who could fail to qualify for both next season's Champions League and UEFA Cup depending on results this weekend, the league's final matchday.
Failure for Zaccheroni
Zaccheroni, who had a contract at Lazio until 2004, replaced Dino Zoff in September 2001 but has failed to achieve the required results and his departure will see a change in background personnel. The assistant coach Stefano Agresti, trainer Paolo Baffoni and goalkeeper coach Maurizio Guido will be replaced by Fernando Orsi, who has been with Lazio for many years, Ivan Carminati, currently Sven-Göran Eriksson's trainer with the English national team, and Pietro Battara.
Long list of honours
Mancini made his Serie A debut on 13 September 1981 for Bologna FC against Cagliari Calcio. The 38-year-old went on to play for Sampdoria UC, Lazio and Leicester City FC. He won two Italian first division titles (one with Bologna, one with Lazio) six Coppa Italias (four with Bologna, two with Lazio) and two European Cup Winners' Cups (one with Sampdoria, one with Lazio). For the Italian national team, Mancini won 36 Italian caps and scored four goals.
Poor start at Fiorentina
At the end of his playing career, Mancini became Eriksson's assistant coach at Lazio in July 2000. In spring 2001, he took over as head coach of AC Fiorentina after Fatih Terim's departure. However, after a poor start to the season, Mancini resigned from the Florence club in January.
