Zamparini: ‘Schelotto to Palermo’

By Football Italia staff

President Maurizio Zamparini confirms Guillermo Barros Schelotto will take over as Palermo Coach.

The Rosanero still have not officially confirmed the departure of current Coach Davide Ballardini, but his sacking is a formality after a spectacular fall-out with the squad.

Fabio Viviani was expected to be his replacement, but reports emerged this evening that former Argentina winger Schelotto was in the frame.

It turned out both things were true, with the patron announcing that Schelotto will take over in June, with Viviani working alongside the former Lanus Coach until the end of the season.

“After yesterday’s win and the events of the day before yesterday, as well as what was said by our captain on TV, I had to spend a night trying to find a solution," Zamparini said in a Press conference, as reported by StadioNews.

“Today, I found what I think is the best solution. As the saying goes, sometimes bad luck doesn’t cause harm.

“The team managed to get a result yesterday, even playing without a Coach.

“About a month ago, a top Argentinian Coach came to my house in Friuli, and at my request we talked about a project for a new Palermo.

“With the right signings we can do just that next year, a campaign on another level, and I found this Coach with whom we reached an agreement for June this year.

“So, from June, Palermo will start on a new path. I called the Coach, who has already given his availability, and we already have Viviani here, who has his licence and already knows the team well.

“He’ll be the link between what came before and what will be next.

“Today I wanted to talk with [Franco] Vazquez to ask questions about Guillermo Barros Schelotto.

“He’s been a Coach in Argentina for three years with Lanus, he won the Copa Sudamericana, got to the semi-final of the Copa Libertadores, and came second once and third once in the League.

“In our meeting a month ago, he said he wants to get to know European and Italian football, his vision is to then go to a top team.

“He’s a Coach for a project which is starting even now, he knows the players and what Palermo’s strengths are.

“At Genoa, Viviani will be on the bench, he’ll be the assistant Coach on the field and will also work with Barros Schelotto.

“It wasn’t an easy choice, but as I have a different Palermo in my head for the coming years, I’ve taken a choice about what to do in June six months early.

"They'll be together, him and Viviani. The boss will be Schelotto though. Maybe he'll be in the stands against Genoa on Sunday.

"It was too risky to stay as we were, and history will show that.

"Schelotto has given up the Paraguayan national team to come to Palermo. He knows that a few years at Palermo can take him to the big club he aspires to.

"He won't be on the bench on Sunday, but definitely against Udinese."

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