Gianluca Zambrotta to coach Swiss club Chiasso

CHIASSO, Switzerland (AP) Italian World Cup-winning defender Gianluca Zambrotta has been promoted to player-coach at struggling Swiss second-tier club Chiasso.

Chiasso says Zambrotta, a former Juventus, Barcelona and AC Milan player, will take over coaching duties for the rest of the season. The 36-year-old joined on a playing contract in July.

Chiasso is ninth in the 10-team division having won just once in 16 matches.

Zambrotta is the second player in Italy's 2006 World Cup squad to coach in Switzerland after arriving as a player.

Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso briefly coached top-tier Sion last season.