ATHENS: Italian Claudio Ranieri has signed a two-year deal to manage the Greek national team, the Hellenic football federation said on Friday.

The Ranieri takes over from Fernando San­tos who left the role when his contract expired after this year’s World Cup. He will lead Gree­ce into their qualifying campaign for the 2016 European Championship in France.

One of the most experienced coaches in European club football, Ranieri has managed Fiorentina, Valen­cia, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Parma, Juventus, Roma, Inter Milan and Monaco.

Greece lost on penalties to 10-man Costa Rica in the World Cup second round in Brazil last month.—Reuters

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2014