Simeone named new Catania coach
Reuters - Wednesday 19 January 2011, 16:48
MILAN - Serie A side Catania gave former
Argentina midfielder Diego Simeone his first managerial job in
European club football on Wednesday after Marco Giampaolo left by
mutual consent.
The Sicilian club said in a statement that Simeone, mooted
as a contender for the Inter Milan job last month before
Leonardo was appointed, had signed a contract until June 2012.
The 40-year-old was well-known for his combative attitude as
a player for Argentina, Inter, Lazio and Atletico Madrid and
since his retirement he has carved out a reasonably successful
career as a coach in his homeland.
He won the 2006 Apertura title with Estudiantes and the 2008
Clausura championship with River Plate but left San Lorenzo last
April after poor results.
Simeone's return to Serie A is a tough test for his first
European coaching job given Catania's uncompromising board and
fans but he will join up with a raft of Argentinians already in
the club's squad.
Sunday's 1-1 home draw with Chievo proved to be Giampaolo's
last game in charge but his departure was a slight surprise with
the perennial strugglers out of the drop zone in 15th spot.
His job was made harder by constant media speculation
linking Catania's Argentine striker Maxi Lopez with Juventus.