PAOK hire Italian coach Beretta

Greek first division club PAOK Salonica announced on Monday that they have appointed Italian coach Mario Beretta on a two-year contract.

Beretta, 50, replaces successful Portuguese manager Fernando Santos, who resigned last month for personal reasons after leading PAOK to the qualifying round of next season’s Champions League.

No financial details were revealed about Beretta’s contract.

The Italian has previously coached at Torino, Lecce, Siena, Parma and Chievo, as well as a number of lower-league Italian clubs.

“I am very pleased to have joined PAOK and this is my first job outside Italy,” he said. “I’m also pleased that a good team like PAOK have given me this opportunity at a time when PAOK are preparing for the Champions League.

“I had some offers from Italian clubs but the people at PAOK convinced me to join them.”