Colantuono takes top job at Palermo

Stefano Colantuono has left Atalanta BC to take charge of UEFA Cup contenders US Città di Palermo.

'A very important club'
The former Calcio Catania and AC Perugia coach has signed a two-year contract with the Sicilian club after Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini announced last week the deal was imminent: "Our sporting director Rino Foschi met Colantuono and is sure he is the young and talented coach we need." Last term Colantuono led newly-promoted Atalanta to eighth place in Serie A with 50 points. The 44-year-old said: "What coach wouldn't be happy to work at Palermo? We are talking about a very important club." Colantuono has already coached a Sicilian team, Catania, in 2003/04, and is fond of the Italian island. "It's really a fantastic region," he said. Palermo finished fifth in Serie A and will start their 2007/08 UEFA Cup campaign in the first round.