Zenga gets another chance as Wolves’ alpha

Sport360 staff 23:41 30/07/2016
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  • Fresh start: Walter Zenga

    Zenga, 56, was announced yesterday as the surprise replacement for the controversially-dismissed Kenny Jackett by the Championship club’s new Chinese owners.

    This unforeseen development saw the ex-Al Ain, Al Nasr and Al Jazira supremo return to employment after an ill-fated three-month stint at bottom-placed Al Shaab ended by mutual consent in February.

    The temperamental former Internazionale and Italy goalkeeper is expected to bring great experience to the hotseat – his first in British football – following time in charge of European clubs such as Steaua Bucharest, Red Star Belgrade, Catania,

    Palermo and Sampdoria. He had been linked to Premier League’s Southampton last month. Wolves’ main director Jeff Shi told the club’s official website: “We’re delighted to appoint Walter as the new head coach of Wolves.

    “He has an excellent track record both as a player and as a coach, and a wealth of experience he can bring to his new role at Wolves. Walter is a hugely passionate personality who lives for football and is fiercely determined to succeed in everything that he does.

    “We are looking forward to working with him, and supporting him in the shared aim of trying to help Wolves achieve promotion back to the Premier League.”

    Zenga endured a tumultuous 2015/16. He departed Sampdoria in Novmeber with the club 10th in Serie A – they eventually finished 15th – after only joining them the previous summer, before gaining just four points in 11 games as he failed to arrest doomed Shaab’s slide in the UAE.

    The Milan-native watched yesterday’s friendly against Swansea from the stands as Rob Edwards, Wolves’ first-team coach, took care of first-team affairs.

    After Jackett’s exit, Shi said: “I would like to sincerely thank Kenny for everything he’s done for Wolves over the last three years. He’s shown true professionalism.”

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