Prandelli to be unveiled as Al Nasr coach on Monday
dubai — Former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has been officially confirmed as the new manager of Al Nasr.
The 59-year-old, who guided the Azzurri to a runners-up finish behind Spain at Euro 2012 and also helped them qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, will be officially unveiled at the Shangri-La Hotel in Dubai on Monday night.
“Al Nasr FC has announced an agreement with Italian coach Cesare Prandelli to take over as coach of the first football team starting from next season,” the club said on their official website.
“Al Nasr FC will hold a press conference at the Shangri-La Hotel Dubai to unveil the new technical director to the media,” the club added.
Prandelli replaces Romanian Dan Petrescu, whose seven-month reign at the Al Maktoum Stadium ended with a chastening 3-0 defeat to Abu Dhabi club Al Wahda, in the final of the President’s Cup.
Petrescu coached Al Nasr in 27 matches across competitions, won 13, drew five and lost nine during a spell that lasted 203 days.
Prandelli becomes the second Italian after former Azzuri goalkeeper Walter Zenga, to coach Al Nasr. Zenga was at the helm for two years from 2011 to 2013, during which he helped them finish second and sixth respectively.
Prandelli, a midfielder, spent six seasons with Serie A side Juventus, making 89 appearances for The Old Lady. He also plied his trade for Cremonese and Atalanta. Prandelli began his managerial career with Atalanta’s youth side in 1990 before taking over as caretaker of the first team.
He also went on to manage Lecce, Verona, Venezia, Parma, Roma and Fiorentina. Prandelli was the Italy manager from 2010 to 2014 after which he went on to coach Turkish club Galatasaray. His last coaching job was with La Liga side Valencia which lasted 10 games. He resigned from the job last December and was a free agent for five months before Al Nasr came calling.
Al Nasr finished sixth in the Arabian Gulf League in the just concluded season. The last of their three League titles came way back in the 1985-86 season. Since then, they won the President’s Cup and the Arabian Gulf Cup double in the 2014-15 season.
james@khaleejtimes.com