How QPR's De Canio Appointment and Harford Departure is Being Reported

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Mail -QPR ditch Harford and give job to De Canio
QPR have appointed former Napoli and Siena boss Luigi De Canio as their new first-team coach, according to the club's website.
Caretaker manager Mick Harford has left the Championship club.
The 50-year-old succeeds John Gregory, who was sacked four weeks ago today, and has agreed a contract at Loftus Road until the end of the 2009-10 season.
Mick Harford, who led Rangers to two wins and two draws as caretaker manager to guide them off the foot of the Coca-Cola Championship table, turned down a coaching role at the club and has left with immediate effect. Mail

Goal.com - Luigi De Canio Takes Charge At QPR
Former Siena and Napoli manager Luigi De Canio has been named as the new boss of English second-tier outfit Queen's Park Rangers...
Queen's Park Rangers have announced that Luigi De Canio has taken over as first team manager.
The Loftus Road club confirmed this morning that the ex-Napoli coach will take immediate charge of the struggling outfit, with the Italian boss eager to get started.
He remarked to the official club website, "I am very excited to have this fantastic opportunity - it will be an honour.
"I am looking forward to getting to work with the players in preparation for our game against Hull on Saturday."
The Championship strugglers are currently second bottom of the table with 11 points from 12 games, although a win against Hull City could potentially lift them into the safety zone.
John Gregory was fired as boss at the Shepherd's Bush team earlier in the season, with Mick Hartford now leaving the club after being relieved of his caretaker managerial duties in favour of De Canio.
The experienced 50 year old has penned a three year deal at Loftus Road for his first management job since leaving Siena in 2006.
Previously, he served clubs including Genoa, Reggina, Napoli and Udinese as boss, having had an undistinguished career as a player with clubs ranging from Serie C2 to Serie B.
The Italian connection at QPR runs as far as presidential level, the current club chief being Gianni Paladini. Goal.com


BBC - Former Napoli boss takes QPR role
De Canio is the new first-team coach at Loftus Road
Queens Park Rangers have confirmed the appointment of Italian Luigi de Canio as first team coach.
The 50-year-old has led Udinese, Napoli, Reggina, Genoa and more recently Siena. He has signed a three-year contract at Loftus Road.
Mick Harford, who had been in caretaker charge following the recent sacking of John Gregory, has left the club.
"I am very excited at this fantastic opportunity. It will be an honour," De Canio told QPR's website.
"I am looking forward to getting to work with the players in preparation for our game against Hull on Saturday."
The incoming new owners at QPR - a group fronted by Formula One magnates Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone - were keen to appoint an Italian.
They turned to De Canio after a bid to install former Palermo and Monaco boss Franceso Guidolin stalled.
"De Canio is fully aware of the high standards and objectives that the new management has set for the future of the club," said chairman Gianni Paladini.
"He is ready and eager to take up the challenge."
Paladini added: "We offered Mick Harford a role within the new set-up and we're disappointed that he turned it down.
"He has done a fantastic job and his contribution will never be forgotten.
"The club is going through a phase of total restructuring and for us, the appointment of Luigi de Canio is the first important step ahead in our long-term strategy." BBC


The TImes - October 29, 2007 Luigi De Canio confirmed as QPR coach Times Online and Agencies
Queen's Park Rangers have appointed Luigi De Canio as their new first-team coach.

The former Napoli and Siena manager succeeds John Gregory and has agreed a contract at Loftus Road until the end of the 2009-10 season. Gregory was sacked a month ago.

Mick Harford, who led Rangers to two wins and two draws as caretaker manager to guide them off the foot of the Coca-Cola Championship, turned down a coaching role at the club and has left with immediate effect.

De Canio has also managed Udinese, Reggina and Genoa and notably kept unfashionable Siena in Serie A for two seasons before leaving last summer.

"I am very excited at this fantastic opportunity to join Queens Park Rangers as their first-team coach," De Canio said.

"For me it will be an honour to work for QPR, a club which is backed by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, two businessmen with an incredible track record of success in sport and other fields.

"I would like to thank them and I will not disappoint their expectations. I am fully committed to the project and I am looking forward to getting to work with the players in preparation for our forthcoming home fixture against Hull City on Saturday."

Gianni Paladini, the QPR chairman, said: "The club is going through a phase of total restructuring and the appointment is the first important step in our long-term strategy.

"De Canio is a highly-motivated professional whose dynamic and aggressive approach fits perfectly with the image and philosophy of the new management."

Harford left his role as assistant manager at Colchester in the summer to become Gregory's No 2, and had expressed his desire to take on the permanent job. "We offered Mick a role within the new set-up and we're disappointed he has turned this down," Paladini said. "He has done a fantastic job since he arrived and his contribution will never be forgotten." The Times


Telegraph - Luigi De Canio named as new QPR coach By Patrick Nathanson and agencies
QPR have appointed former Napoli manager Luigi De Canio as their new first-team coach.
De Canio, 50, succeeds John Gregory, who was sacked four weeks ago today, and has agreed a contract at Loftus Road until the end of the 2009-10 season.
Mick Harford, who led Rangers to two wins and two draws as caretaker manager to guide them off the foot of the Coca-Cola Championship table, turned down a coaching role at the club and has left with immediate effect.
De Canio has also managed Reggina and Genoa and notably kept unfashionable Siena in Serie A for two seasons before leaving last summer.
"I am very excited at this fantastic opportunity to join Queens Park Rangers as their first-team coach," he said.
"For me it will be an honour to work for QPR, a club which is backed by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, two businessmen with an incredible track record of success in sport and other fields.
"I would like to thank them and I will not disappoint their expectations. I am fully committed to the project and I am looking forward to getting to work with the players in preparation for our forthcoming home fixture against Hull City on Saturday."
QPR chairman Gianni Paladini said: "The club is going through a phase of total restructuring and the appointment is the first important step in our long-term strategy.
"De Canio is a highly-motivated professional whose dynamic and aggressive approach fits perfectly with the image and philosophy of the new management." Telegraph

AP - Queens Park Rangers appoints Luigi de Canio as coach on contract until 2010
LONDON: Queens Park Rangers appointed Luigi de Canio as its first team coach on Monday on a contract until 2010.
De Canio replaced John Gregory who was fired a month ago by the League Championship side.
De Canio, 50, has coached Italian clubs Udinese, Napoli, Reggina, Genoa and Siena. He left Siena at the end of the 2005-06 season — after twice helping the club avoid relegation from the Serie A — and hasn't coached since.
De Canio said he was lured to QPR by new owners, Formula One heavyweights Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore.
"I would like to thank them and tell them I will not disappoint their expectations," De Canio said. "I am fully committed to the project and am looking forward to getting to work with the players."
De Canio's first game in charge is against Hull on Saturday.
QPR chairman Gianni Paladini said De Canio's appointment was part of a total restructuring of the west London club.
"De Canio is a highly motivated professional whose dynamic and aggressive approach fits perfectly with the image and philosophy of the new management," Paladini said.
Mick Harford, who led Rangers to two wins and two draws as caretaker manager, left the club Monday after turning down a coaching role.
QPR is in 23rd place out of 24 teams in the League Championship — the division below the Premier League — with 11 points from 12 games. AP


See Also: QPR Official Announcement and De Canio Profile