Serie B club Palermo have appointed former Italy and Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso as their new head coach.
The 35-year-old experienced a brief spell as player-manager with Swiss club Sion last season but, after falling out with president Christian Constantin in May, he was demoted to the reserves to serve out his contract while being replaced as manager by Michel Decastel.
Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini, who changed his team’s head coach four times during the Sicilians’ relegation season, last month admitted opening talks with Gattuso while working on a contract resolution with then-Rosanero boss Giu-seppe Sannino.
Gladbach net record ticket sales
Borussia Moenchengladbach have stopped selling season tickets with two months still to go before the start of the 2013/14 season after reaching their upper limit of 30,000.
Despite not qualifying for Europe, interest has never been so high as Gladbach confirmed they had already broken last season’s record for the sale of season tickets.
“We could have sold even more tickets,” general manager Stephan Schippers said.
“But we decided to hold back a number of matchday tickets. Borussia have a big following and many fans live a long way from Moenchengladbach and can only make it to the Borussia Park a few times a season.”
Blatter should stay on – Valcke
FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s chances of remaining in office after 2015 have increased dramatically after FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke urged him to stay in the job.
Valcke was asked if he would be standing as FIFA president and after laughing off that suggestion by saying he had a World Cup to organise, he said Blatter should change his mind about stepping down.
“Why change a winning team, a good team?” Valcke said.
“The current president is very good and why should he not run again? Why should he not stay as the FIFA president as he is doing a great job?”
Viola sign Munua
Fiorentina have confirmed the signing of veteran goalkeeper Gustavo Munua from Levante on a two-year contract.
The 35-year-old Uruguayan’s deal at the Ciutat de Valencia was set to expire at the end of June and, after revealing a tentative agreement was in place last month, the Serie A club have officially secured the experienced keeper’s services until June 2015.
Munua made a total of 139 appearances in La Liga with Levante, Malaga and Deportivo after leaving Nacional in 2003.
Spurs confirm Baldini role
Tottenham have confirmed the appointment of former England assistant manager Franco Baldini as technical director at the English Premier League club.
The 52-year-old Italian recently left his post as general manager of Roma and is understood to be set to look after Spurs’ scouting and transfer policy.
A statement on Tottenham’s official Twitter feed read: “We are delighted to announce that Franco Baldini has joined the club in the role of technical director.”
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has been keen for the club to move to a structure similar to those adopted by many in mainland Europe, having worked with a technical director during his successful time in charge at Porto.
Torino renew Barreto’s deal
Brazilian striker Barreto will remain at Torino for the 2013-14 season after the Serie A club renewed their co-ownership arrangement with Udinese.
The 27-year-old moved to Torino from Udinese in January and scored three goals in 16 appearances to help the team secure their top-flight status.
A club statement read: “Torino have reached an agreement with Udinese to renew the agreement concerning striker Vitor Barreto, who will once again wear the Granata shirt for 2013-14.”
The Rio-born forward originally signed for Udinese in 2005 but enjoyed his best spell in Italy during three years with Bari, for whom he scored 41 league goals.
Pardew: I’m staying
Alan Pardew has insisted he will remain as Newcastle boss despite the turmoil engulfing the club.
The 51-year-old has re-affirmed his commitment to the Magpies a day after seeing Joe Kinnear installed above him as director of football and with managing director Derek Llam-bias having resigned from his post.
In the most brief of comments, Pardew said: “I’m staying – to take the club up the league.”
Pardew’s silence in the wake of Kinnear’s appointment on Tues-day was interpreted as an indi-cation of his disquiet at owner Mike Ashley’s decision, although it appears he is at least ready to try to make it work.