Soccer-Maran named Albania coach after Sylvinho exit

Albanian FA president Armand Duka has ​tasked Maran with topping their Nations ⁠League group and qualifying for Euro 2028, ⁠while ​also setting a longer-term target of reaching the 2030 World ⁠Cup. "If I did not believe there are ⁠possibilities ⁠to achieve these objectives, I would not be here," Maran ‌said.

Italian Rolando ​Maran has ​been appointed as ‌head coach ​of the Albanian National team on ‌a one-and-a-half-year contract, the country's football association announced on Tuesday. Maran, 62, replaces Brazilian ‌Sylvinho, whose tenure ended following Albania's ‌failure to reach the World Cup.

The Italian has extensive experience in domestic football, having ⁠coached ​top-flight ⁠and second-tier clubs including Cagliari, Genoa, Bari ⁠and Brescia. Albanian FA president Armand Duka has ​tasked Maran with topping their Nations ⁠League group and qualifying for Euro 2028, ⁠while ​also setting a longer-term target of reaching the 2030 World ⁠Cup.

"If I did not believe there are ⁠possibilities ⁠to achieve these objectives, I would not be here," Maran ‌said.