Scala lands Shakhtar job

FC Shakhtar Donetsk have unveiled Nevio Scala as their new coach. The former BV Borussia Dortmund and Parma AC manager has signed an 18-month contract and was presented at a press conference on Friday.

Sacked by Besiktas
Scala, who is to join his new side in their training camp in the United Arab Emirates, will replace current vice-president Viktor Prokopenko, who was promoted to a coaching position within the club in October. "This is an historic day, not only for Shakhtar Donetsk but for all of Ukrainian football," Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov told a news conference on Friday.

No promises
Scala himself refused to make any promises or predictions for the rest of the season. "Of course, I would give all my best," he said. "But football is not like mathematics where you know everything in advance. Football brings a great deal of uncertainty."

Second time only
Scala been in negotiations with the former UEFA Champions League contestants since November and will look to restore some of his proud reputation after he was sacked at Besiktas JK in February 2001. He is only the second coach from western Europe to work in Ukraine, following the lead of German tactician Bernd Stange, who was in charge of FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in the mid-1990s.

Success with Parma
Scala began his coaching career at Reggina Calcio but made a name for himself at Parma, guiding them from Serie B to success in the 1993 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup against Royal Antwerp FC and the 1995 UEFA Cup final against Juventus FC. He later replaced Ottmar Hitzfeld at BV Borussia Dortmund in 1997. Shakhtar are currently level with FC Dynamo Kyiv on 33 points at the top of the table.