STOCKPORT COUNTY have ended days of speculation by announcing their new first team manager… little-known Bosnian Darije Kalezic.
Numerous high-profile English bosses, including Gary Brabin, Mark Cooper and Ian Bogie, were linked with the Edgeley Park role but the Hatters plumped for Kalezic.
The 43-year-old spent his playing career in Bosnia and the Netherlands before moving into management in 2006 with Dutch side De Graafschap.
He was initially in charge of their reserve and youth team and later became their assistant manager.
Swiss-born Kalezic was named first team boss in 2009 and had an immediate impact, leading the club to the Dutch Second Tier title in his first season in charge.
He kept them in the equivalent of the Dutch Premier League in 200/11 before leaving at the end of the campaign.
In the summer of 2011 he took over as head coach of Belgian side Zulte Waregem but was sacked at the back end of 2011.
Kalezic’s first game in charge will come at home to Nuneaton Town on Saturday week – Alan Lord remains in charge of first team affairs for the club’s Blue Square Bet Premier clash with Gateshead next Tuesday.
