Panucci named Albania coach
Former Italy defender Christian Panucci was presented as the new coach of the Albanian national team on Wednesday.
Ex-Real Madrid and AC Milan star Christian Panucci was unveiled as coach of Albania on Wednesday, and promptly set a target of reaching Euro 2020.
Panucci: Euro 2020 "my chief objective"
Panucci was assistant coach of Russia under his long-time mentor Fabio Capello between 2012 and 2014, but the 44-year-old is better known as winner of the Champions League as a right-back with Milan and Madrid in 1994 and 1998.
"My chief objective is to qualify Albania for Euro 2020," Panucci told a press conference.
"The World Cup is almost impossible"
Albania are currently third in their qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, trailing Spain and Italy by seven points with four games to go.
"The World Cup is almost impossible," he admitted. "But we'll give our very best in the four remaining matches."
Panucci, who also enjoyed eight seasons with Roma and brief spells at Chelsea, Monaco and Inter, replaces another Italian, Gianni de Biasi, who took Albania to France for Euro 2016.
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