Gianni Solinas will become the first Italian coach to work in the Premier Soccer League after Free State Stars moved swiftly to appoint a successor to Ernest Middendorp.
The shock resignation of the much-travelled German coach to go back to Maritzburg United caught Stars unawares just before Christmas. But within a fortnight they had their new man, appointing the 47-year-old Solinas on terms which have not been made public.
Solinas’ lack of local knowledge is tempered by the appointment of Bradley Carnell as his assistant.
The former Bafana Bafana fullback has been earmarked for some time as a future PSL coach after success at the University of Johannesburg and his work as a television analyst for SuperSport.
Solinas hails from Sassari in Italy and despite not having a professional playing career has earned himself several high level coaching badges, including a Uefa Pro license.
He worked at four different Algerian clubs, Entente Setif, JSM Bejaia, Mouloudia Oran and Chabab Belouizdad , where he took the place of former Platinum Stars and Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Angel Gamondi.
His last job was at Al Faislay in Saudi Arabia but he is not known in his own country.
“We had to move quickly and fill the void left by Ernst Middendorp’s sudden departure. Giovanni was the standout candidate and ticked many boxes,” said general manager Rantsi Mokoena on the club’s website.
Free State Stars hire Italian coach to replace Middendorp
The shock resignation of the much-travelled German coach to go back to Maritzburg United caught Stars unawares just before Christmas. But within a fortnight they had their new man, appointing the 47-year-old Solinas on terms which have not been made public.
Solinas’ lack of local knowledge is tempered by the appointment of Bradley Carnell as his assistant.
The former Bafana Bafana fullback has been earmarked for some time as a future PSL coach after success at the University of Johannesburg and his work as a television analyst for SuperSport.
Solinas hails from Sassari in Italy and despite not having a professional playing career has earned himself several high level coaching badges, including a Uefa Pro license.
He worked at four different Algerian clubs, Entente Setif, JSM Bejaia, Mouloudia Oran and Chabab Belouizdad , where he took the place of former Platinum Stars and Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Angel Gamondi.
His last job was at Al Faislay in Saudi Arabia but he is not known in his own country.
“We had to move quickly and fill the void left by Ernst Middendorp’s sudden departure. Giovanni was the standout candidate and ticked many boxes,” said general manager Rantsi Mokoena on the club’s website.
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