Delneri accepts Juventus challenge
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
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Luigi Delneri has replaced Alberto Zaccheroni at Juventus, charged with overseeing a revival in the Bianconeri's fortunes after the Turin club finished a disappointing seventh this season.
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Former UC Sampdoria trainer Luigi Delneri has been installed as Juventus coach in place of Alberto Zaccheroni, signing a two-year contract.
Delneri, 59, handed in his resignation to the Blucerchiati on Monday, less than 24 hours after steering the Genoa club to a fourth-place finish in Serie A and a berth in the UEFA Champions League play-offs. The much-travelled coach previously made his name at AC Chievo Verona between 2000 and 2004, masterminding their rise from the second tier into the top flight before qualifying for the UEFA Cup in the club's first campaign among Italy's elite.
He left the 'Chievo miracle' for a brief spell at then European champions FC Porto, and after unsuccessful stints at AS Roma and US Città di Palermo, returned to Chievo in 2006. He was unable to save his former employers from relegation.
Juventus, meanwhile, finished a disappointing 2009/10 in seventh, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League only by virtue of FC Internazionale Milano and Roma reaching the Coppa Italia final. Under Ciro Ferrara and then Zaccheroni − whose six-month contract was not renewed − the Bianconeri matched their record of most defeats in a single campaign: 15, set in 1961/62.
