Roma employ former Lille coach Garcia
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
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Rudi Garcia – the man who, in 2011, guided LOSC Lille to their first Ligue 1 championship in 57 years – has been installed as AS Roma coach on a two-year contract.
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AS Roma have appointed Rudi Garcia as their new coach on a two-year deal.
The Italian outfit moved for the 49-year-old, who left LOSC Lille last month, after deciding not to renew the contract of Aurelio Andreazzoli. Andreazzoli succeeded the sacked Zdeněk Zeman in February but could not secure European football next season for the capital club. Roma finished sixth in Serie A and lost to city rivals S.S. Lazio in the Coppa Italia final.
"We are happy and optimistic about the decision to hire Garcia," said Roma president James Pallotta. "He has already proved to be a winner and we like his football vision. We believe he fits perfectly into our blueprint for the future."
Garcia, the first Frenchman to occupy the Giallorossi dugout, took charge at Lille in 2008 and guided Les Dogues to the Ligue 1-Coupe de France double three years later. Like Roma, Lille ended the 2012/13 campaign in sixth position.