ARGENTINE HERNAN CRESPO will be the new coach of Sao Paulo, the Brazilian club has announced.
The 45-year-old’s appointment comes just three weeks after he led modest Argentine side Defensa y Justicia to the Copa Sudamericana title.
The former striker, a Premier League winner with Chelsea and three-time Serie A champion with Inter Milan, has signed a two-year contract.
“He has a winning history, he was a great athlete and is a very promising coach,” said Sao Paulo president Julio Casares. “We have a commander with a winning mentality,” he added.
Crespo replaces Brazilian Fernando Diniz, who was fired after a string of poor results that dropped Sao Paulo off the top of the Brazilian championship. They have not won in seven league matches, losing four, including a 5-1 home reverse to front-runners Internacional.
Sao Paulo are fourth, seven points behind with four matches remaining, but need to maintain that position to qualify automatically for the Copa Libertadores group stage.
They have a tough run-in, including matches against Flamengo, who are fighting for the title, and two sides — Gremio and Palmeiras — attempting to dislodge them from the top four.
Crespo made his name as a striker for River Plate in his homeland, where he won the Copa Libertadores in 1996 and two Argentine titles.
He earned a move to Parma in Italy where he played in the club’s glory era under Carlo Ancelotti and alongside Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro and Lilian Thuram.
After moving to Lazio, Crespo was one of the first players signed by Chelsea when the London club was bought in 2003 by billionaire Russian Roman Abramovich, who immediately embarked on a £100 million spending spree.
Jettisoned on loan to AC Milan a year later after Jose Mourinho took over as manager from Claudio Ranieri, Crespo scored twice in the 2005 Champions League final before Liverpool came back from a 3-0 half-time deficit to win on penalties.
Crespo returned to Chelsea the next season and won the Premier League title before collecting three Serie A crowns in a row after beginning a second spell with Inter, initially on loan.
He scored 35 goals in 64 games for Argentina — one more than Diego Maradona — and is fourth on his country’s all-time scoring list behind Lionel Messi, Gabriel Batistuta and Sergio Aguero.
He began his coaching career at Modena in Italy before returning home to take over Banfield in January 2019 and then Defensa a year later.
Interesting combination of locks and backrows for Australia with 5 guys who’s primary position is lock in the 23 and then Naisarani who’s 6’5 at 8. I guess that means Australia are looking at New Zealands issues from 1 through 6 and deciding that’s the best way to take them on.
@Eddie Hekenui: I have a feeling Australia will target the nz lineout. Having Savea at 6 reduces their lineout options(he adds massively at the bd and in the loose obviously) and with Australia loading up in that area I can see them trying to disrupt the nz lineout and use their own lineout and maul in attack. Be a fascinating watch how that particular area goes.
@Eddie Hekenui: good
@Eddie Hekenui: good
@Eddie Hekenui: good to see Luke Jones back in the mix. He was phenomenal when he broke through for the rebels a few years back. Exciting hybrid lock to watch.
@Ian Verdon: Yeah I’ve just seen the NZ team. Read is a good lineout operator so they’ll still have 3 options but not as strong as usual where they’ve had 4 and Retalick as banker ball. I’m just surprised Australia went with Latu ahead of Faingaa who was pretty lethal off the back of the Brumbies maul this season. Rodda had a strong season attacking opposition ball so I can see him trying to go after NZ ball. Lots of teams will be watching with interest to see if they can dominate in the set piece and how that affects the game because there are far stronger tight 5′s out there than Australia.
@Jim Demps: Yeah he’s an exciting player at his best but he’s been very up and done this year. I’d love to see him hit form again.
@Eddie Hekenui: yeah sure didn’t faingaa get into double figures this season in the try scoring column? I think all of which were at the back of the maul. Read is a very dependable lineout operator indeed, I think the lineout is certainly an area opposition teams will target. The Nz scrum isn’t the weapon it has been in the past yet by no means poor but SA in particular would be relishing that front 5 battle.
@Eddie Hekenui: If you’re going after the NZ lineout faingaa is not your man to play to hit those darts. Very wishy washy as was clearly evident against the jaguares in the super semis
@Liam Flague: He’s not perfect but he’s better than Latu and probably the best of a questionable bunch going on this seasons form. Brumbies had a strong lineout and a very dangerous maul with Faingaa being an important part of that. The last two times I’ve seen Latu play for Australia he’s fallen apart in the lineout. Against Wales in November they lost 4 or 5 lineouts and the last time he played NZ he lost 6 or 7 in 35 minutes.
I really like 11-15. Better centre pairing.
@Andrew H: it will be a great test to see where he’s at going toe to toe with one of the most in form and even at only 24 one of the best 13’s in the game. Can see goodhue using his power and exceptional running lines to ruffle O’Connor’s feathers.
NZ will stick to their usual strategy of pinning Aus in their half forcing them to run out.
Then scoring after with counter attacks from turnovers, while keeping the scoreboard ticking with penalties because of good defense. There is little Aus have in their arsenal to counter them, they will go down fighting like they always do.