Scala named as Spartak Moscow boss
MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) -- Italian Nevio Scala has been appointed as coach of former Russian champions Spartak Moscow.
"We have agreed a one-year contract with Scala and he will officially sign it sometime next week," a Spartak spokesman told Reuters on Thursday.
Scala guided Shakhtar Donetsk to their first Ukrainian league title in his first season at the helm in 2002 but was forced to leave just three months later following a 5-1 thrashing by Austria Vienna in a UEFA Cup match.
The 56-year-old, who also coached in Italy, Germany and Turkey, led Italy's Parma to two European trophies, winning the now-defunct Cup Winner's Cup trophy in 1993 and the UEFA Cup two years later.
He becomes Spartak's fourth coach in less than six months in what has become the club's worst season in almost three decades.
Spartak, who take on Romania's Dinamo Bucharest in a UEFA Cup second round, second leg tie on Thursday, finished in 10th place last season.
But after being knocked out of the domestic cup by first division Kuban Krasnodar last week, the Muscovites, who have won nine Russian league titles since 1992, will not play in Europe next season for the first time in 24 years.
Scala replaces former Soviet striker Vladimir Fedotov, who was appointed as caretaker coach two months ago after Andrei Chernyshov was sacked.
Scala becomes the fourth foreign manager and the second appointed within a week in Russia's top flight.
On Sunday, Russian champions CSKA Moscow appointed former Portugal manager Artur Jorge to succeed former Russia coach Valery Gazzayev.
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