Ex-Italy international Ravanelli to coach Ajaccio

Ajaccio coach Fabrizio Ravanelli was dismissed after the team lost 3-1 to Valenciennes to drop to 19th place in the French league on Saturday.(Antonio Calanni/AP)

AJACCIO, France — Former Juventus and Italy striker Fabrizio Ravanelli is the new coach of French first division side Ajaccio.

The 44-year-old Ravanelli was previously the director of Juventus’ youth team and also coached the reserve side. He has held a coaching diploma since 2008.

As a player, Ravanelli won league titles with Juventus and Lazio and the Champions League with Juve in 1996. He then scored regularly in spells with Middlesbrough, Marseille and Derby County, quickly becoming a fan’s favourite for his trademark goal celebration, where he pulled his jersey over his head.

He was also part of Italy’s technical staff when it won the 2006 World Cup.

Ravanelli replaces Albert Emon, who kept Ajaccio in the first division last season as the Corsican club finished 17th.

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