Prandelli wins Italian coach prize
Monday, December 11, 2006
Article summary
ACF Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli has been voted Italy's best coach of the 2005/06 campaign - being awarded the Panchina d'Oro or golden bench prize.
Article body
Fiorentina high
The 49-year-old led Fiorentina to fourth place in Serie A and UEFA Champions League qualification, before the Viola were punished in the match-fixing scandal that hit Italian football last summer and were demoted to ninth position. During his top-flight career, Prandelli has also coached US Lecce, Hellas-Verona FC and Parma FC while he was forced to quit the AS Roma hot seat before the start of the 2004/05 campaign for family reasons.
Silver bench
Meanwhile, Antonio Soda, 42, won the Panchina d'Argento – silver bench – for guiding Spezia Calcio 1906 back to Serie B following a 55-year absence. Special awards were also given to Marcello Lippi and his backroom team for their FIFA World Cup success with Italy last summer, as well as to former Under-21 coach Claudio Gentile for his work in developing the next generation of Azzurri.