Former De Zerbi assistant becomes Ukraine manager

Andrea Maldera, a former assistant manager of Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi, has been appointed as Ukraine head coach.

The Italian becomes the first foreign coach to take charge of Ukraine's national team and replaces Serhiy Rebrov, who departed in April after their failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Maldera previously spent five years as assistant to Andriy Shevchenko, now Ukrainian Football Association (UAE) president, when he was in charge of the national team from 2016-2021.

"Andrea Maldera is an Italian with a Ukrainian soul. He worked with our national team for five years," said Shevchenko.

"Andrea has a background of working with great coaches, clubs, and achieved results.

"It is important that Maldera now has ambitions as a head coach. The most important thing is that he understands how to work with the national team."

Maldera worked with De Zerbi at Brighton & Hove Albion and Marseille - his two most recent jobs prior to Spurs.