Hellas Verona have named Fabio Pecchia as their new manager after parting company with Luigi Delneri following the club’s relegation from Serie A.
Pecchia signs on a one-year deal with the Italian side that will last to June 30, 2017.
Verona also announced that Pecchia will joined by Nicola Corrent, Marco Antonio Ferrone and Valerio Visconti, who will make up his back room staff.
Pecchia has brief management spells earlier in his career with Italian sides, Gubbio and Latina. But Pecchia will be most known as assistant to Rafael Benitez at Napoli, Real Madrid and Newcastle United.
Benitez has wished Pecchia well
Benitez has been quick to react to Pecchia departure where the Spaniard has offered his congratulations: “I would like to congratulate Fabio Pecchia who, until now, has been my 'assistant ' in my recent managerial appointments at Napoli, Real Madrid and, more recently - Newcastle United."
Benitez only decided to stay at Newcastle United last week and had hoped Pecchia would have joined him which has left the Newcastle boss sad on his departure: "First, I am sad to see him depart as he has been an excellent professional from the first day and until the last in the years we have worked together."
But Benitez also said he was pleased for Pecchia, saying that "most importantly", he's "pleased" for his counterpart, and wishes him well when going off to face "new and exciting challenges, both personally and professionally".
"I wish you all the best, good luck and I can only say thank you for everything, Fabio." Benitez finished.
The search for Pecchia's successor has already begun back in England, with Benitez needing a new number two to try and help guide Newcastle back into the Premier League. You can find some potential successor's, here.