Valencia pin hopes on new coach Pizzi

Valencia CF have brought in Argentinian coach Juan Antonio Pizzi from CA San Lorenzo de Almagro to replace Miroslav Djukić, who was relieved of his duties earlier this month.

The 45-year-old Pizzi has agreed a reported 18-month contract at Valencia, the club he briefly represented in 1993/94. It was at CD Tenerife, however, that the striker rose to prominence; his 76 goals in 141 league appearances for the Canary Islanders included 31 in 1995/96, earning him the Pichichi trophy as the Spanish top flight's leading marksman.

A two-year spell at FC Barcelona brought Pizzi Liga, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup honours. He returned to his native Argentina before reappearing in Europe for spells at FC Porto and Villarreal CF.

Scorer of eight goals in 22 appearances for Spain, Pizzi featured for La Roja at UEFA EURO '96 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup. During an eight-year coaching career spent in Peru, Chile and Argentina, he has won league titles with CD Universidad Católica and, most recently, San Lorenzo.

Valencia face FC Dynamo Kyiv in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 in February.