Soccer-Zola named coach for Italy Serie A side Cagliari, replacing Zemen

ROME, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Gianfranco Zola will be the new coach of Serie A side Cagliari, replacing Dzenek Zemen, who was sacked this week after two wins in 16 matches left them in the relegation zone, the club said on Wednesday. "Welcome back, Gianfranco," the club said on its website announcing the appointment of Zola, who previously played for the Italian club as well as English Premier League side Chelsea. The 67-year-old Zemen, a Czech, took charge of Cagliari in July but the Sardinians have not won a home league game in this campaign and sit 18th, with only Cesena and Parma below them. Zeman was fired by AS Roma last February following a disastrous nine months in charge that saw the club lose nine times in 23 games, leaving them languishing mid-table. (Reporting By Philip Pullella, editing by David Evans)