Zdeněk Zeman is a Czech football coach who was born in Prague on 12 May 1947. In the late 1960s Zeman moved to Sicily where he worked as a fitness instructor. He started his coaching career in the amateur teams in Palermo (Cinisi, Bacigalupo, Carini, Misilmeri, Esacalza).
After receiving license for managerial work in 1979, the tactician worked with small sides Licata and Messina, but it was not until his appointment as Foggia boss that Zeman established himself as a talented coach that helped the team to earn promotion from Serie C1 to Serie A. In the top flight Foggia impressed the whole country fighting with grand clubs for UEFA Cup qualification for three campaigns and showing attacking football with 3-4-3 formation.
After five remarkable seasons with Foggia Zeman was invited to Lazio and managed to finish 2nd and 3rd. In 1997 he moved to other capital club Roma, bringing the side to the 4th and 5th places. From 1999 till 2011 the manager changed a number of teams including Fenerbahçe, Napoli, Salernitana, Avellino, Lecce, Brescia and Red Star Belgrade, though did not achieve much with those sides.
Zeman was appointed as a boss of Foggia again in 2010, but under his helm the team did not earn promotion from Serie B and he moved to Pescara. After a short spell in the club, he returned to Roma on 4 June 2012, signing a two-year contract with the outfit. However, he was released at the beginning of 2013 due to poor results.
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