Maurizio Zamparini is set to confirm Devis Mangia as Palermo's coach and wants him to become 'the Arsene Wenger' of Italian football.
Caretaker boss poised for permanent role at Palermo
Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini is set to confirm Devis Mangia as permanent coach, insisting he wants him to become 'the Arsene Wenger' of Italian football.
Youth team coach Mangia took the reins of Palermo's senior side last week after Stefano Pioli was sacked before the season started.
He made a bright start to his tenure as Rosanero boss, guiding them to a 4-3 home victory over Serie A giants Inter Milan in their domestic curtain-raiser on Sunday.
Italian Mangia is contracted at Palermo until 2013 and Zamparini plans to offer him another two years on top of his current deal.
Challenge
The president is hoping his side can become the Arsenal of Serie A and has challenged Mangia to emulate long-term Gunners boss Wenger.
"I hope Palermo can become the Arsenal of Italian football and that Mangia can become our Wenger," Zamparini told
Radio Radio.
"I have already told the club's sporting director Sean Sogliano to allow him to become our coach, not only for the two years which he already has a contract, but also for another two.
"I'm ready to get behind him 100 per cent. I think he's a coach that will become great.
"I don't want to lose him and I want to start a cycle with him."
