Istanbul: Former Italy football manager Cesare Prandelli on Tuesday immediately put behind him the disappointment of his country’s first round exit from the World Cup, signing a two year deal with Istanbul giants Galatasaray worth at least €2.3 million (Dh11.5 million) a year.
Galatasaray have conducted an extensive search for a new manager following the departure of former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini who left Istanbul after less than a season amid reported differences over transfer policy.
“My aim to to develop a winning team,” said Prandelli at the signing ceremony in Istanbul, impressing his hosts with some opening pleasantries in Turkish.
“Not just a team that plays well but to form a team that only wins,” he added.
Prandelli will receive a base annual salary for the next two seasons of €2.295 million but will receive huge bonuses if he achieves success with the club, Galatasaray said in a statement.
He will receive a $1 million (Dh3.67 million) bonus if Galatasaray wins the Turkish league title and $2 million if they wins the Champions League.
If he achieves the targets of winning the Turkish league and making the Champions League quarter finals, he will also receive a pay rise of €350,000.
The Turkish league kicks off at the end of August with Galatasaray seeking to overcome eternal Istanbul rivals and last season’s champions Fenerbahce.
With Fenerbahce disqualified due to a match-fixing scandal, Galatasaray are taking Turkey’s automatic Champions League spot for 2014-2015 as last year’s runners-up.
Prandelli, 56, oversaw Italy’s failed World Cup campaign in Brazil which started promisingly with victory over England but ended in a first round exit.
He resigned immediately after defeat to Uruguay meant Italy failed to make it to the knockout stages.
Galatasaray had held talks with the sacked Manchester United boss David Moyes and had also expressed interest in top German coaches like national team chief Joachim Loew and US national coach Juergen Klinsmann.
