Nedved nominated for Juventus board
Reuters - Tuesday 12 October 2010, 11:11
MILAN - Former Juventus favourite Pavel
Nedved was nominated for a seat on the club's board on Tuesday,
ending speculation about the retired Czech winger's intentions.
Exor, the holding company which controls Juve, said in a
statement to the Italian stock exchange that club president
Andrea Agnelli wanted to increase the number of board members to
11 from seven and include personal friend Nedved.
The 38-year-old, who retired at the end of the 2008/09
season and has kept a low profile since, was a huge success in
his nine years at Juve and had been linked with the role of
youth team coach. Some fans even wanted him as manager.
He won the Ballon d'Or in 2003 and was hailed by supporters
for sticking with the Turin club when they were demoted and had
two scudettos stripped in a match-fixing scandal in 2006.
Many Juve fans pinpoint Nedved's retirement as a reason for
their dreadful season last term when they finished seventh in
Serie A.
New Juve sporting director Beppe Marotta, who arrived from
Sampdoria along with coach Luigi Del Neri, has also been
nominated for the board in a bid to bring more football people
into the running of the club. A new stadium is set to be
completed next year.
Juve shareholders must approve the new names at a meeting on
October 27.