(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Chelsea icon Gianfranco Zola arrived in Doha yesterday to finalise a deal that will see him take over as the head coach of Al Arabi Sports Club.
The former Italian striker will replace Uruguayan Jose Daniel Carreno, who was recently appointed as the coach of Qatar's national team.
Zola managed West Ham United between 2008 and 2010, he was in charge of Italy's Under-16 squad between 2011 and 2012 and Watford between 2012 and 2013. The 49-year-old's most recent managerial assignment was at Serie A club Cagliari last season.
Zola is considered one of the best Italian players ever, having represented Napoli between 1989 and 1993, Parma between 1993 and 1996, and his most glorious period came in the blue colors of Chelsea where he made 229 appearances and won several titles, including the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Super
Cup, FA Cup and Football League Cup.
On Friday, Al Arabi also signed French defender Rod Fanni from French club Olympique de Marseille on a two-year contract starting next season.
Fanni has previously plied his trade at French clubs including Lens, Nice and Rennes before joining Marseille in December 2010.
The 33-year-old has five caps for France. Fanni played in 26 games for Marseille, who finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season.
He was not offered a contract extension from Marseille coach Marcelo Bielsa at the end of the season.
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