Italy’s 2006 World Cup captain Fabio Cannavaro will take over the reins of Italian second division club Benevento, Italian media reported on Tuesday (20 September).
The former Real Madrid, Juventus and Inter Milan defender, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2006 after leading his country to World Cup glory that year, is reportedly set to sign a 1.5-year contract at Benevento, according to media reports.
Benevento were relegated from Serie A in the 2020/21 season and are currently 13th in the second division.
Cannavaro started coaching two years after hanging up his boots in 2011, working as an assistant at United Arab Emirates’ Al-Ahli before becoming head coach of Chinese Super League club Guangzhou and then Al-Nassr from Saudi Arabia.
The 49-year-old was also the head coach of the China national team for less than two months before stepping down to focus on Guangzhou, which he was again in charge of at the same time.
Cannavaro said in February he was ready to return to Europe to restart his coaching career.
Benevento welcomes the eleventh Ascoli on October 2 after the international break.