Dandenong Thunder have announced Italian Giuseppe Anastasi as their new head coach for the 2017 NPL2 East season.
The 43 year-old Sicilian replaces Huss Skenderovic who departed George Andrews Reserve in late September to take up a role as Head of Youth Development and Women’s Football with Adelaide United.
A defender in his playing days, Anastasi enjoyed a modest playing career which saw him ply the majority of his football trade in Serie B and Serie C.
He began his career with local lower league clubs Leonzio and Atletico Catania before securing a move to the mainland in 1995 by joining second tier Foggia, who in previous seasons had won many plaudits for their attacking brand of football in Serie A under Zdenek Zeman.
A return to Sicily with Atletico followed before moving back to Foggia and then Lecce, who at the time were competing in Serie A, which ended in relegation.
Anastasi featured twice for the Wolves, who were briefly managed that campaign by future Italian manager Cesare Prandelli.
In 1999, the then 29 year-old joined Serie A side Hellas Verona, spending two years at the club where he was restricted to a sole appearance in Italy’s top flight under Prandelli.
He did however share a locker room with future World Cup winners Mauro Camoranesi, Alberto Gilardino, Massimo Oddo, ex-Aston Villa captain Martin Laursen and Romanian superstar Adrian Mutu.
He also had an Australian link at the club – former Australian youth international and A-League keeper Jess Vanstrattan.
From there onwards, he played for a number of lower league clubs before retiring in 2005 to focus on a career in coaching.
He made his managerial debut for former club Leonzio before achieving promotion to Serie D with Palazzolo while also managing Ragusa in Italy’s fourth tier.
His last coaching venture was with Acireale earlier this year and arrives in Melbourne for his first coaching voyage away from Italy.
He will no doubt be looking to achieve promotion to the top flight with the 2012 treble winners who narrowly missed out on the feat this season, being pipped by Kingston City by a mere point.
Thunder have secured the services of former Green Gully midfielder Alon Blumgart while confirming the re-signings of 2016 Golden Boot and Player of the Season Brandon Barnes, former Socceroo Simon Colosimo, right-back Nick Modaffari and NPL2 Goalkeeper of the Year Fraser Maclaren.