Petrović takes Timişoara reins

Vladimir Petrović has been appointed coach of UEFA Europa League participants FC Timişoara, replacing Ioan Ovidiu Sabău.

Petrović, who has signed a two-year deal, was dismissed in March from his second spell in charge of FK Crvena Zvezda despite leading the club he appeared over 250 times for as a player to the top of the Serbian Super League. No reason was given when Sabău left his post last month.

"I'm happy to work in a city close to Belgrade, where I was born and where I live, and I'm also happy to work at a club with a good name which last year featured in the Champions League play-offs," said Petrović, whose new employers finished fifth in Romania's top tier last season. "There are plenty of very good and skilful players at this club."

The 54-year-old also turned out for Arsenal FC, Royal Antwerp FC, Stade Brestois 29, R. Standard de Liège and AS Nancy-Lorraine before guiding Crvena Zvezda to domestic cup glory in 1996. Spells at FK Bor, FK Vojvodina and at the helm of Serbia and Montenegro Under-21 squad followed prior to a move to China, where Petrović won the double with Dalian Shide FC in 2005 and coached the Chinese national team. Petrović is the second foreign coach in Timişoara's history after the tenure of Czech tactician Dušan Uhrin Jr between 2007 and 2008.