Dubai: Al Ahli advisor Fabio Cannavaro is being groomed to replace Cesare Prandelli as coach of Italy, according to the Italian press.
Sport | Football
Cannavaro tipped as Italy successor
Al Ahli advisor will understudy Prandelli before 2014 takeover
- By Ashley Hammond, Staff Reporter
- Published: 15:57 December 18, 2012
The 2006 World Cup-winning captain and Fifa Player of the Year is set to complete his coaching badges in June 2013 in time to join Prandelli’s coaching staff at the Confederations Cup in Brazil.
Reports in Italy suggest this will serve as the former Italy, Juventus and Real Madrid defender’s managerial apprenticeship before a full transferral of power after the 2014 Fifa World Cup.
Having joined Al Ahli on a two-year playing contract in June 2010, Cannavaro, 39, retired the following year with a knee-injury. He stayed on at the club in an advisory capacity, but that second contract runs out next summer.
In August, Cannavaro expressed an interest in standing in for Juventus coach Antonio Conte after the latter was banned for his alleged failure to notify authorities of match-fixing. This signalled his intent to leave the UAE and get into top-flight coaching. Al Ahli refused to comment on his future.
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