Beretta named as Carmignani replacement at Parma

Parma have named Mario Beretta as their coach, the Serie A club announced yesterday.

Beretta, 45, replaces Pietro Gedeone Carmignani, who stood down at the end of the season.

Beretta's only previous top-flight experience with Chievo who sacked him three games from the end of the season as the team battled relegation.

With 15 consecutive seasons in Serie A, Parma are among the most established teams in the division, although their position has become increasingly precarious in recent years.

Having won promotion in 1990, the team finished runners-up in the Serie A championship in 1995 and 1997 and won the Italian Cup three times.

They won the Euro Supercup in 1994 and the UEFA Cup in 1995 and 1999.

The collapse of parent company Parmalat in December 2003, however, led to many of the team's top players being sold off.

Last season Parma's young and relatively inexperienced side had to win a play-off against Bologna to remain in Serie A.