FC Shakhtar announces the end of its cooperation with head coach Marino Pusic and his coaching staff, the club’s press service reported.
“We would like to thank Marino Pusic and his assistants for their dedication and high-quality work, the highest level of professionalism, personal courage and resilience, for the brilliant victories, titles and trophies, and the beautiful and unforgettable emotions. Your names and achievements will forever be part of Shakhtar’s history. Special thanks for your active support of Ukraine and Ukrainians,” the statement said.
Marino Pushich has been at the helm of Shakhtar since October 23, 2023. During this time, the team played 71 official matches, winning 44, drawing 13, and losing 14, with a total goal difference of 139-71. Under Pushich’s leadership, Donetsk won three national trophies: they achieved a double in the 2023/24 season and won the Ukrainian Cup in 2024/25, a record 15th in their history.
“We wish you new professional achievements, beautiful victories, and great success in the future!” the club’s website said.
The management of FC Shakhtar presented the new head coach. Bosnian Marino Pusic became him, the club’s press service reports.
“The contract with the mentor is designed until the end of the season-2025/26”, – is indicated in the message.
Pušić was born August 18, 1971 in Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina). At the professional level played for Dutch “De Grafshap” (1989-1990, 1992-1993) and “Gow Ahead Eagles” (1990), Serbian “Crvena Zvezda” (1990-1991), Bosnian “Velež” (1991-1992), “Reden” (1993-1994), German “Cologne” (1994-1995), Belgian “Eupen” (1995-1996), Dutch “Babberich” (1996-2000) and “De Trefers” (2000-2001). After finishing his career as a soccer player he played for futsal teams.
He started his coaching path also in futsal, then worked as a mentor at Vitesse Academy (2010-2013), assistant head coach at NAC Breda (2013-2014), Inter (Azerbaijan, 2015), Twente (2015-2018), was head coach of Twente (2018-2019), assistant head coach at AZ Alkmaar (2019-2021) and Feyenoord (2021-2023).
As head coach he won the Eerste Divisie (2019), as assistant head coach he won the Dutch Championship (2023).
Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi will become the head coach of Football Club Shakhtar for the next two seasons, the club’s official website reported on Tuesday.
“On May 25, the Italian specialist arrived in Kyiv and met with the Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov. During his two-day visit, Roberto De Zerbi will get acquainted with the infrastructure in the capital of Ukraine – the Miners’ training complex in Sviatoshyno and the NSC Olimpiysky where the team play their home matches,” the message reads.
The Italian became the 34th head coach in the history of Shakhtar.
Roberto De Zerbi was born in Brescia on June 6, 1979
He started his player career in the Milan youth team. He also played for Monza (1998), Padova (1998-2000), Avellino (2000-2001; 2008-2009), Lecco (2001-2002), Foggia (2002-2004), Arezzo (2004-2005), Catania (2005-2006), Napoli (2006-2008; 2009-2010), Brescia (2008), Romanian CFR Cluj (2010-2012) and Trento (2013).
His worked as a coach in such football clubs as Darfo Boario (2013-2014), Foggia (2014–2016), Palermo (2016), Benevento (2017-2018), and Sassuolo (2018-2021).
