Jovanovic returns after Al Nasr axe Prandelli

Dubai - Italian guided The Blues to just five wins in 12 Arabian Gulf League matches

Al Nasr have returned to Ivan Jovanovic after the Dubai club parted ways with Italian Cesare Prandelli.

Serbian manager Jovanovic, who guided The Blues to the GCC Champions League in 2014 as well as the President's Cup and the Arabian Gulf Cup in the 2014-15 season, during his three-year spell, takes over as caretaker coach, the club confirmed on the official twitter handle.

"Al Nasr announces that Serbian Ivan Jovanovic has been appointed as the coach of the first football team to succeed Cesare Prandelli," the club said on Friday.

Jovanovic coached Al Nasr from 2013 to 2016 during which he also oversaw their run to the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League in 2016.

The 55-year-old has rich experience, having guided Cypriot First Division side APOEL to the group stages of the Uefa Champions League in 2009 and then bettered that by piloting them to the quarterfinals of the European competition, where they lost to Real Madrid in 2011-12.

Meanwhile, former Italy coach Prandelli, who had taken over at the start of the season from Romanian Dan Petrescu, won just five fixtures out of 12 in the Arabian Gulf League. They drew two and lost five.

And although the former Roma, Fiorentina, Galatasaray and Valencia coach helped them qualify for the Arabian Gulf Cup quarterfinals, their 5-3 defeat on penalties to Dibba in the President's Cup on Wednesday night, forced the club to take the decision.

"Al Nasr Football Company has decided to relieve Italian Cesare Prandelli from the post of technical director," the club said on their twitter account.

Al Nasr are currently fourth in the Arabian Gulf League.

james@khaleejtimes.com