Prandelli named best coach for second year in a row

Fiorentina's Cesare Prandelli has won the Golden Bench award for Italy's best club coach for the second consecutive year.

The award, based on the votes of fellow coaches, reflects the Florence side's sixth-place finish last season despite a 15-point penalty for their role in Italy's 2006 match-fixing scandal.

"I'm very satisfied. It's a reward for the team's effort to overcome the handicap," the 50-year-old told Sky television.

"A coach can do his job well when he works with great players, not outstanding talents but great human beings, real men who never let you down."

Fiorentina are fourth in Serie A with 37 points from 21 games.

Roberto Mancini, who led league leaders Inter to last year's Serie A title, was overlooked again after not being nominated for the Italian Player Association's 2007 manager of the year prize, awarded to Roma coach Luciano Spalletti last week.

Genoa boss Gian Piero Gasperini won the Silver Bench award, given to the best manager in the second division Serie B, for taking Italy's oldest club back to the top flight last season.