Ammon News - Italian Rolando Maran was appointed on Tuesday as the new head coach of Albania's national football team, replacing former Brazil defender Sylvinho.

Maran, previously a coach in Serie A with Chievo and Cagliari, takes over after Albania failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

"I am convinced that we have made a very good choice," Albanian football federation president Armand Duka said at a press conference in Tirana.

His predecessor, Sylvinho, had his contract expire earlier this month.

It is a first international role for 62-year-old Maran, who has over two decades' experience coaching in the upper echelons of the Italian league system.


"I will pour all my experience and my heart into bringing onto the pitch all the great love that you have for this shirt," Maran told reporters.

Sylvinho had led Albania since January 2023 and took the team to Euro 2024 their second ever appearance at the tournament.

Despite a good run in the group stages of World Cup qualification, the Albanians were eliminated in the play-off semi-finals, losing 2–1 to Poland in March.

AFP