Giovanni Solinas, also known as Gianni Solinas, is an Italian
football manager. He has managed teams in Algeria, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. He is the current
manager of Saudi Arabian club
Al-Najma.
In July 2011, he came back to North Africa where he reached an agreement with Algerian club
CR Belouizdad to become the head coach of the club succeeding at the Argentine
Miguel Angel Gamondi but in November 2011, he resigned.[15][16]
JSM Béjaïa
In January 2013, he was appointed as manager of the club
JSM Béjaïa in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1, to replace the Frenchman coach
Alain Michel.[17]
During his time with the club, Solinas guided JSM Béjaïa to a historic qualification into the 1/8th final of the
2013 CAF Champions League beating Ghana champions,
Asante Kotoko SC with a favorable aggregate score of 2–1, where JSM Béjaïa lost against Tunisia giants
Espérance de Tunis relegating them to the Confederation Cup.[18][19][20][21][22] He finished the season by leading JSM Béjaïa against Tunisian side
Etoile du Sahel in an
CAF Confederation Cup play-off.[23][24]
MC Oran
In late June 2013, he reached an agreement with Algerian club
MC Oran to become the head coach of the club, but In November 2013, he was sacked after his defeat 0–1 in the championship against
USM Alger.[25][26]
Al-Faisaly FC (Harmah)
In December 2013, Solinas moved to the Middle East where he was appointed as manager of Saudi club
Al-Faisaly FC (Harmah) replacing the Belgian manager
Marc Brys.[27][28] The club was involved in a relegation fight, he saved the club from relegation with a sixth-place finish in the league table.[29][30][31]
Solinas led Al-Faisaly FC to qualify for the
2015 GCC Champions League formerly known as the Gulf Cup for Clubs.
Free State Stars
In December 2015 South African club
Free State Stars F.C. announced Solinas as new head coach, with former Bafana Bafana international
Bradley Carnell as an assistant. He replaced German football manager
Ernst Middendorp as head coach of the club.[32]
Solinas went back as head coach on 30 September 2016,[33] On 11 January, Solinas left Free State Stars with the mutual termination of the contract.[34]
Al-Faisaly FC (Harmah) - return
Solinas returned to Al-Faisaly on 1 March 2017. The club was involved in a relegation fight, he saved the club from relegation.[35]
Kaizer Chiefs
Solinas was appointed the head Coach of Kaizer Chiefs, during the 2018/2019 season. On 7 December 2018, Kaizer Chiefs and Solinas agreed the termination of his contract. He did not finish the season with Kaizer Chiefs.[36]
CS Sfaxien
Solinas was appointed head coach of the club in 2021.[37]
Al-Faisaly FC (Harmah) - return
On 16 March 2023, Solinas was appointed as the manager of Al-Faisaly for the third time.[38]
Al-Najma
On 7 September 2023, Solinas was appointed as manager of
Al-Najma.[39]
^"ES Sétif Last chance to stay in the champions league" (27 August 2010)
"Accueil - Footafrica365.fr". Archived from
the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015. footafrica365.fr Retrieved 6 April 2015
^"ES Sétif: The trophy and the resignation" (22 December 2010)
"Accueil - Footafrica365.fr". Archived from
the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015. footafrica365.fr Retrieved 20 March 2015
^"ES-Sétif Solinas resigned, Herve Renard approached" (22 December 2010)
"algeronline.com". algeronline.com Retrieved 20 March 2015
^"JSM Bejaia: Solinas attempts a feat " (10 April 2013)
"Accueil - Footafrica365.fr". Archived from
the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015. footafrica365.fr Retrieved 25 March 2015
^"MC Oran Solinas to commands" (29 June 2013)
"Accueil - Footafrica365.fr". Archived from
the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015. footafrica365.fr Retrieved 1 April 2015