Well, I guess its "all roads lead to Rome." At least for Hajduk Split manager Edoardo Reja. That is former Hajduk Split manager, as Edoardo Reja confirmed today that he will leave Split and replace Davide Ballardini as Lazio manager. The 64 year old took over as Hajduk Split coach last August after having been fired by Napoli last season.
"I've been weighing it up for a long time, but eventually I gave my word to Lazio's president. Yes, I'm leaving for Rome. When they've been calling me from Italy during the past few months. I was refusing the offers, I was not even thinking about them. However, Lazio is too important a challenge. It was hard for me to reach this decision … but when the most important people from the city of Rome, the club of Lazio call you it is difficult to refuse. I've decided to take up this challenge."~Edoardo Reja.
Reja had been under contract with Hajduk Split until June 2011, and Hajduk are believed to receive 150,000 - 500,000 euros in damages, while Reja will be paid 1.5 million euros a year by Lazio.
Now the question is, who should replace Reja?
I have spoken to Hajduk sports director Ivica Šurjak last week over the phone. The former Hajduk Split and PSG midfielder is "satisfied with Hajduk's preparations in Spain last month" and is "looking forward to the second half of the season." Šurjak has also been in talks with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, hoping to lure Barcelona to Split for Hajduk's 100th anniversary in February. "Barcelona will vote on a new president in May, and we must wait for this before we can proceed negotiations with Barcelona," said an optimistic Ivica Šurjak. Unfortunately, I was unable to reach Ivica today for comment on Reja.
~Denis Svirčić reporting from San Pedro, California
