By DAN KARELL
At his season review press conference with the media on Tuesday, Montreal Impact owner Joey Saputo shot down reports that recently retired Impact defender Alessandro Nesta would be the club’s next head coach.
Reports surfaced Friday that Nesta was in line to replace current head coach Marco Schallibaum, who in his first year as the Impact’s manager led the team to a tremendous start before a poor run at the end of the season and a 3-0 defeat to the Houston Dynamo left Montreal out of the playoffs.
“There’s absolutely no foundation to the rumor that Alessandro Nesta is the next coach of the Montreal Impact,” Saputo said.
Prior to the team’s final home game, the 37-year-old Nesta announced that he would retire following the season. The legendary Milan and Lazio defender has mentioned in the past that he’d be interested in moving into the coaching ranks once his playing career was over.
Saputo confirmed that he and sporting director Nick De Santis had yet to come to a decision on the future of Schallibaum, who was on a one-year contract. Schallibaum is expected to speak to media in Montreal on Wednesday.
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What do you think of these developments? Do you see Schallibaum keeping his job? Do you see Nesta staying with the Impact as an assistant next season if not a head coach?
Share your thoughts below.
“Saputo allegedly shoots down Nesta rumor on Montreal city street in broad daylight.”
Me thinks the Schallibaumer is gone. Nesta would be a gamble, but for my money, a shrewd one.
the nesta expirment sounded like a bold, commendable decision by the Impact… In light of this news, it sounds like they werent as smart/daring as I thought.