Sion turn to former Italy defender Gentile
Friday, June 6, 2014
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Former Juventus and Italy defender Claudio Gentile has signed a two-year contract to succeed Raimondo Ponte as coach of Swiss Super League outfit FC Sion.
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Claudio Gentile, a member of Italy's 1982 FIFA World Cup-winning squad, has been appointed coach of FC Sion.
The former defender has succeeded Raimondo Ponte – whose contract expired at the end of the season – and signed a two-year deal to take charge of a squad that finished eighth in the ten-team Swiss Super League.
In 60-year-old Gentile, Sion have hired a man who enjoyed great success as a player. While at Juventus, he won the UEFA Cup in 1977 and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1984 as well as six Serie A titles and the Coppa Italia twice. Six of his 71 international caps were earned during the Azzurri's triumphant 1982 World Cup campaign in Spain
Gentile's previous coaching position was with Italy's Under-21s between 2000 and 2006, leading them to the European crown in 2004. "Gentile helped develop the players that were part of Italy's World Cup-winning side in 2006," explained Sion president Christian Constantin. "He has experience, discipline and tactical know-how. He will help take one of the Super League's youngest teams forward."
