Tuesday, 5 June 2007

Udinese appoint Marino

Udinese have parted company with coach Alberto Malesani following a tenth-placed finish in Serie A and have appointed former Catania boss Pasquale Marino.

Malesani, 53 today, was hired to replace Giovanni Galeone at the Friuli Stadium having previously been in charge of Chievo, Fiorentina, Parma , Verona, Modena and Panathinaikos.


His replacement, 44-year-old Marino, has signed a two-year contract with Udinese.

"I am honoured by this decision," noted Marino. "I believe Udinese’s way of interpreting football is one of the best. I have been very lucky and when I heard I had this opportunity then I left all the rest behind."

Marino led Catania back into Serie A after a 20-year absence in 2005/06, and steered them to Serie A safety this season after the final-day win against Chievo before announcing his departure.

"I had nothing left to do in Catania after a two-year spell and Serie A safety," he continued. "Udinese were the best possible option for me."

The 2007-08 season will only be the 44-year-old’s second in the top flight. The former midfielder, who ended his career as a footballer with Catania in 1996-97, started his bench role at Serie D team Milazzo following retirement.

He then moved on to Paterno, whom he led to two consecutive promotions from Serie D to Serie C1, before guiding Foggia to Serie C1 promotion.

He made his Serie B debut in 2004 with Arezzo but was replaced by Marco Tardelli, before being recalled at the helm of the team in the same campaign to secure a 14th place finish.

[Serie A 2006-07 Managerial Changes]

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