• Premier League

West Ham hero Di Canio set to manage Swindon

May 20, 2011
Paolo Di Canio had been linked with the West Ham job © Getty Images
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Former West Ham and Lazio striker Paolo Di Canio is set to become the new manager of Swindon.

Di Canio, 42, is set to replace Paul Hart, who left three weeks ago, at the County Ground as the Robins prepare for life in the bottom tier of the Football League following relegation from League One this season.

The Italian had been linked with the vacancy at West Ham but will now begin his managerial career with the Wiltshire outfit, who were in the Premier League 18 years ago.

Di Canio was one of eight prospective managers shortlisted and subsequently interviewed last week by interim chairman Jeremy Wray for the Town vacancy, with others believed to include George Burley and Dietmar Hamann.

But the lure of the passionate Rome-born former striker has proved too strong and it is understood he accepted the position. A formal announcement is expected around midday on Friday and, with the finer details of the agreement to be ironed out, he will be unveiled early next week.

Di Canio, who was working as a pundit in his native Italy, has been keen to move into the dugout for some time although many anticipated his managerial bow to possibly be made higher up the football pyramid.

Having played for Lazio, Juventus, Napoli and AC Milan, with whom he won the Serie A title, he moved to Celtic in 1996. A two-year spell at Sheffield Wednesday followed before a switch to West Ham in 1999 where he enjoyed huge success and lit up the Premier League, remaining idolised by the Upton Park faithful to this day.

He swapped the Hammers for a brief spell with Charlton in 2003 before returning to Rome and spells with Lazio and Cisco Roma.

And he will now take the reins at Swindon, attempting to guide the club back into England's third tier at the first attempt.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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