Walter Zenga has extended his contract as Catania coach for a year until 2010, the club announced on Thursday.
The former Inter Milan and Italy goalkeeper joined the Sicilian club in April after experience in Eastern Europe and helped save it from relegation.
Under his canny guidance - sometimes using tricks like a controversial 'pants-down' free-kick wall - Catania have gone from strength to strength.
The Sicilians are now 9th in Serie A, two points below the UEFA zone.
The ex-Inter icon left his job as a RAI TV pundit on April 1 to coach Catania.
He had only worked in Italy once as a coach, with semi-professional outfit Brera in 2000-2001.
He got his first coaching break with Major League Soccer side New England Revolution in 1999.
After Brera, he moved on to National Bucharest, Steaua Bucharest, Red Star Belgrade - where he did the double of Serbian league and cup - and Gaziantepspor of Turkey.
Last year he briefly coached United Arab Emirates club Al Ain FC before a short stint at Dinamo Bucharest.
During his playing career the 'Uomo Ragno' (Spider-Man) turned out 328 times for Inter from 1982 to 1994 and won 58 Italy caps between 1985 and 1992.
He played every game at the 1990 World Cup, where Italy came third, and kept five straight clean sheets - a record that still stands.
