Kaizer Chiefs have unveiled Italian Giovanni Solinas as their new coach, ending months of speculation over who would take over at Naturena.
Solinas has previous Premier Soccer League experience during two spells at Free State Stars, and follows Steve Komphela in the Chiefs hot-seat.
No immediate information was given as to the make-up of his technical team, though it is likely that caretaker coach Patrick Mabedi will be retained as an assistant.
Here he is! Introducing our new coach, Giovanni Solinas. #HeIsHere #Amakhosi4Life pic.twitter.com/O8re9iMPdb
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) July 13, 2018
The 50-year-old Solinas was largely praised for bringing organization to the Stars side that he coached previously.
In his first spell between January and May 2016 he led the side away from relegation and to the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup, where they lost to Orlando Pirates.
After returning to Italy for family reasons, he returned again in for a second spell, from October to December 2016, after which he left to join Saudi Arabia side Al-Faisaly.
He also led Stars to the semifinals of the Telkom Knockout during that brief spell. In all he took charge of 46 games with Stars, winning 13, losing 15 and was involved in eight draws.
He has a UEFA pro License and has also coached extensively in Algeria, though curiously not in his native Italy.
Chiefs are looking to end three seasons of misery having not won a trophy since they lifted the league title under coach Stuart Baxter in May 2015. It is the longest barren run in the club’s 48-year history.