Wednesday 2 July 2014 17:05, UK
Cagliari have appointed veteran former Roma coach Zdenek Zeman as their new manager.
It is the first major appointment made by new owner Tommaso Giulini since he completed his purchase of the club from long-time owner Massimo Cellino last month.
"Zdenek Zeman is the new coach of Cagliari," read a statement on cagliaricalcio.net.
"The composition of his staff: Vincent Cangelosi (assistant coach), James Modica (technical assistant), Roberto Ferola (trainer), Nico Facciolo (goalkeeping coach)."
Zeman replaces Ivo Pulga who took the reins in April after Diego Lopez was dismissed with Cagliari eventually finishing 15th in the Serie A standings, seven points clear of the drop zone.
The Czech-born tactician was dismissed from his second spell at Roma in February 2013 with the capital club sitting eighth in the league but has vast experience after coaching spells at Lazio and Napoli, although he is probably best known for his three spells in charge of Foggia.
"I'm happy to be here, with a young president and the chance to get the team playing my kind of football and entertaining the fans," he told a press conference.
"I'm 67 and I keep coaching because I love to be out on the pitch. The older I get, the more I like to work with young players because they make me feel young."
The appointment of Zeman comes hot on the heels of a double signing swoop for the Sardinians who have also secured the services of goalkeeper Simone Colombi and striker Alessandro Capello.
Colombi has spent his entire career with Atalanta but the 23-year-old has been loaned to a series of clubs over the last five years including Juve Stabia, Modena and, most recently, Capri.
Capello, 18, joins from Bolgna after a year at the club following his switch from Inter Milan.
