CHIASSO, Switzerland — Italian World Cup-winning defender Gianluca Zambrotta has been promoted to player-coach at struggling Swiss second-tier club Chiasso.
Chiasso says Zambrotta, a former Juventus, Barcelona and AC Milan player, will take over coaching duties for the rest of the season. The 36-year-old joined on a playing contract in July.
Chiasso is ninth in the 10-team division having won just once in 16 matches.
Zambrotta is the second player in Italy’s 2006 World Cup squad to coach in Switzerland after arriving as a player.
Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso briefly coached top-tier Sion last season.