Former Italy U21 coach Nicolato to lead Latvia | OneFootball

Former Italy Under-21 coach Paolo Nicolato has been appointed as the new boss of the Latvia national team.

The 57-year-old only worked at club level for Chievo’s youth team and then lower league side Lumezzane.

He worked his way up through the ranks for Italy with the Under-18s in 2016-17, then the Under-19 team, the Under-20 side and finally to the Under-21s from 2019 to 2023.

Despite having a strong squad, the Azzurrini failed to win any silverware or progress to the later stages of the European Under-21 Championship and he was dismissed at the end of his contract.

His record for the Under-21 side was 21 wins, seven draws and six defeats.

Now Nicolato starts a new experience as the coach of the Latvia senior squad and his staff will include former Inter and Atalanta midfielder Massimo Paganin.

The Latvia squad had been without a permanent coach since November 2023, when Daini Kazakevica was fired.