Ranieri relishes challenge at Juventus

Jun 4, 2007 - 6:13 PM Special to PA SportsTicker

TURIN, Italy (Ticker) -- Claudio Ranieri admitted the Juventus job was too tempting to turn down after being unveiled as Didier Deschamps' successor.

It had been reported Juventus initially had targeted former coach Marcello Lippi while former striker Gianluca Vialli was also believed to be in the frame.

But the job ultimately went to Ranieri, the former Chelsea manager who resigned as Parma coach after saving them from Serie A relegation.

"This is a beautiful, difficult and electrifying challenge," said Ranieri, who signed a three-year contract to coach the Bianconeri. "It is a great opportunity for me, and there's a lot of work to do in order to recover Juve's standing."

The 55-year-old Ranieri will be pressed with the charge of reviving Juventus, who were demoted prior to last season to Serie B for the first time in the club's history following a match-fixing scandal.

"I have the possibility to return Juve to where it belongs, and it is an electrifying challenge which I don't fear," Ranieri said. "It is an ambitious project, but I am certain that we will do well and the fans should stay calm. We will make them proud of the team in Italy and then in Europe."

The Juventus hierarchy are certain they have appointed the right man to lead the club on their return to Serie A.

"Claudio Ranieri has signed a contract which will see him tied to the club from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2010," said a statement on the team's official web site. "For Juventus, this is the best possible choice fully in line with the company's objectives and tradition.

"Ranieri is a man of great experience and international vision. He is able to carry out the sporting project approved by the administrative council."

Juventus clinched the Serie B title last week with a 2-0 win over Mantova to ensure an immediate return to the top flight.

Deschamps and the club decided to "amicably separate" just hours after the triumph, which came courtesy of goals from David Trezeguet and Pavel Nedved. Juventus promoted assistant coach Giancarlo Corradini to lead the first team until the end of the season.

Ranieri started his managerial career with Pozzuoli-based Campania in 1987 before making his name with Cagliari by getting the club promoted to Serie A.

After serving stints in his homeland with Napoli and Fiorentina, the Rome native tried his luck in Spain and enjoyed a two-year stint at the Valencia helm during which time he won the 1997 Copa del Rey and guided the club into the Champions League.

A brief period at Atletico Madrid followed before Ranieri headed to Britain to join Chelsea in 2000.

Heavily backed in the transfer market at Chelsea, particularly after the 2003 arrival of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, Ranieri ultimately failed to deliver on the pitch and was replaced by Jose Mourinho in May 2004.

Ranieri was out of work for just over a week before returning to Valencia, although his three-year contract with Los Che proved insignificant when he was fired the following February with the club in sixth spot and out of the Champions League.

Ranieri took up the reins at Parma this past February after two years out of work and successfully helped the club retain their top-flight status before quitting.