Ukrainian football champion, Shakhtar Donetsk, has announced the appointment of Marino Pušić as the club’s new head coach. This decision comes just one day before Shakhtar’s crucial Champions League match against Barcelona, signifying the urgency and intent behind the change.
Marino Pušić, a 52-year-old Bosnian coach, joins Shakhtar Donetsk from the Dutch champion Feyenoord. His previous role at Feyenoord was as an assistant to coach Arne Slot. Pušić has signed a contract with Shakhtar that extends until the end of the 2025-26 season. Follow your favourite football team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet.
This change follows the dismissal of Patrick van Leeuwen, who had only been in charge for 12 games. The decision to part ways with van Leeuwen was made last week.
Notably, Shakhtar’s sporting director, Darijo Srna, represented the club at a pre-game news conference in Barcelona, taking on the role of caretaker coach. Srna confirmed that the club is working to ensure that Marino Pušić can join him on the bench for the upcoming match against Barcelona.
Under Srna’s temporary leadership, Shakhtar secured a 3-0 victory against LNZ Cherkasy on Saturday. This win placed the club in third position in the Ukrainian league.
In the Champions League, Shakhtar currently stands third in Group H, trailing behind Barcelona and Porto. Despite the challenges they face in the tournament, Shakhtar remains a formidable competitor.
One distinctive aspect of Shakhtar’s Champions League campaign is that they are playing their home matches in the German city of Hamburg. This relocation is due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has created security concerns and complications for the club.
The appointment of Marino Pušić as the new head coach is a pivotal moment for Shakhtar Donetsk. As they prepare to face Barcelona and continue their Champions League journey, the club aims to make a strong statement under their new leadership and secure their place in European football.
The fans eagerly anticipate the impact of this coaching change on the team’s performance in the coming months. Get the latest updates from the world of football only on Nextbet Sports.
