Former West Ham Striker Paolo Di Canio Confirmed As New Swindon Town Manager

Paolo Di Canio, ex-West Ham striker, has been confirmed as new Swindon Town FC manager.

The Italian has been amid a lot of speculation linking him to the vacant West Ham job; however, it would seem as if he has chosen Swindon in order to gain some managerial experience with it being his first job as the gaffer.

He holds a coaching licence and 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 yesterday.

Di Canio, who will wrap up his work as a pundit in his native Italy this weekend, 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.

He started his career in his homeland with Lazio, Juventus, Napoli and AC Milan, during which time he won the Serie A title and European Super Cup and claimed runners-up medals in both the Uefa Cup and European Cup among other achievements.

He switched to West Ham in 1999, where he enjoyed huge success and lit up the Premier League with his flair and skill, 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—where off-field troubles continued to follow him, most notably after his fascist salutes to a section of the club's fans—and Cisco Roma.

His retirement from professional football finally came in 2008.

Di Canio will now take the reins at Swindon and attempt to guide the club back into England's third tier at the first attempt.