Spalletti extends Zenit contract to 2015

Zenit St. Petersburg coach Luciano Spalletti has signed a deal to keep him at the Petrovsky Stadium until 2015. The 52-year-old Italian arrived at Zenit from Serie A giants AS Roma in 2009 and has taken the club to back-to-back titles and the Russian Cup in 2010. "Zenit and the head coach of the navy-white-blues Luciano Spalletti have signed an agreement that sees the Italian specialist continue his work with the club until 2015," a website statement said. Spalletti will retain complete control over Zenit's transfer policy, the statement said. Until Spalletti, Zenit have reached the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in their history. They face Benfica in the first leg of the last 16 next week. The club are six points clear of CSKA Moscow at the top of the Russian Premier League, with 14 games remaining. Last month, Spalletti admitted a return to Italy was in his plans, and that Fiorentina, based in his hometown of Florence, would be the likeliest destination. "Work at Fiorentina? This is my dream in the future, because I played there in my youth," Spalletti was quoted as saying by the Corriere Dello Sport.