Swindon Town confirm West Ham star Paola Di Canio as new manager

Paola Di Canio: Starting out as a boss at the County Ground, not Upton Park

Former West Ham striker Paolo Di Canio has been named as the new Swindon Town manager.

Di Canio will replace Paul Hart with the Robins, he left three weeks ago, as the Wiltshire side start next season in the basement division following their relegation from League One in the campaign just ended.

They will face former boss Paul Sturrock for the first time since the Scotsman settled at Roots Hall.

Di Canio was linked with some role with the managerless Hammers, but the 42-year-old Italian will begin his career on the touchline with the boys up the M4, who were in the Premier League 18 years ago!

You've got to give it to Swindon they don't mess around, the ex-Hamster was was one of eight candidates interviewed for the job, but it's a real gamble, this is not Glenn Hoddle here.

I must admit though, it will be great to see the photos of Paola looking cool in his Ray Ban's at Macclesfield on a cold Tuesday evening in February!

It's official:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13466915.stm

The Di Canio Files

Di Canio at Upton Park, September 2010
Personal information
Date of birth	9 July 1968 (1968-07-09) (age 42)
Place of birth	Rome, Italy
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Striker
Youth career
	Lazio
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1985-1990	Lazio	54	(4)
1986-1987	→ Ternana (loan)	27	(2)
1990-1993	Juventus	58	(6)
1993-1994	Napoli	28	(5)
1994-1996	A.C. Milan	37	(6)
1996-1997	Celtic	37	(15)
1997-1999	Sheffield Wednesday	41	(23)
1999-2003	West Ham United	118	(48)
2003-2004	Charlton Athletic	31	(4)
2004-2006	Lazio	50	(11)
2006-2008	Cisco Roma	46	(14)
Total		527	(138)
Teams managed
2011 -	Swindon Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

(Manager info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Di_Canio)