Italo Galbiati, Sliema’s new technical director.

Sliema Wanderers’ high-profile recruitment drive continues unabated as the BOV Premier League club have formalised the appointment of Italian coach Italo Galbiati as their new technical director.

Galbiati’s potential involvement with Sliema Wanderers had been on the cards for some time as the 77-year-old has been to Malta several times over the past 12 months.

The deal Sliema Wanderers, led by president Keith Perry, signed with Next Champions TV during the club’s Annual General Meeting last Sunday has smoothed the way for Galbiati to take up his new role as technical director.

Galbiati is well-known in international football after spending several years working alongside Fabio Capello at top European clubs, including Milan, Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid as well as the English national team.

The appointment of a renowned coach like Galbiati is testament to the ambitions of Sliema and their partners to restore the club’s status as one of the leading forces in Maltese football.

Discussions between Sliema Wanderers and Next Champions, headed by David Dunkley, started almost two years ago with the two parties finally reaching an agreement in the last few months.

Dunkley has been named as Sliema Wanderers vice-president while Italian Marco Cornia, representing Next Champions, has taken up the role of general secretary.

It is understood that Next Champions TV are working to lure a host of foreign veteran stars to play for Sliema Wanderers in season 2015/16.

Last summer, Sliema were linked with several top names, including William Gallas, Alessandro Del Piero and Mikael Silvestre.

Sources have told Times of Malta that Sliema are also looking to strengthen their technical team.

While Stephen Azzopardi has been confirmed as head coach, the Blues’ new investors are looking to bring in a high-profile manager and a new team manager.

When reports of Next Champions TV’s interest in Sliema Wanderers first surfaced last year, the idea was for the Blues to star in a football reality show on an international television channel.

This proposal, which enjoys the backing of several international sponsors, is still on but it is believed that Next Champions TV and Sliema Wanderers first want to focus their efforts on bolstering their squad and technical sector before embarking on this ambitious project.