Marcello Lippi has been announced as the new Italy coach following the termination of Roberto Donadoni’s contract in the wake of the team’s Euro 2008 quarter-final exit.
Lippi, who led Italy to the 2006 World Cup in Germany before he resigned, has been linked with the position following the penalty shoot-out defeat to Spain in Vienna and returned to the role following a meeting with Italian soccer association (FIGC) president Giancarlo Abete.
Since the victory in Berlin, Lippi has not accepted any of the numerous roles offered to him, preferring to work for Sky Sports Italia and recharge his batteries on the Tuscan coast.
The ex-Juventus coach will be officially unveiled on Tuesday.
Donadoni had his tenure ended after the FIGC decided not to renew his two-year contract following their exit from Euro 2008 at the quarter-final stage.
Abete met with Donadoni in Rome on Thursday where he told the 43-year-old of their decision, the FIGC said on its Web site.
“In confirming to Donadoni his sincere personal gratitude and appreciation for the knowledge and professional manner in which he conducted himself during his time as coach to the national team, president Abete also let the coach know the FIGC’s decision to end their relationship at the termination of his contract,” a FIGC statement said.
Donadoni’s reponse to the announcement was brief and he continued to rue his side’s luck in losing by penalties to Spain.
He told ANSA news agency: “I am sorry that a penalty kick determined this situation. In the two years my Italy also made positive strides, which the last match cannot remove.”
Donadoni initially dithered, then eventually signed a contract extension prior to Euro 2008, but it was dependent on Italy reaching the semi-finals and he refused to resign in the wake of their penalty shoot-out loss to Spain, saying: “Resign? The thought never even entered my brain. I don’t have a reason, we only lost a game on penalties.”
Since the team returned from Austria and Switzerland there has been constant press speculation that Donadoni would be removed from his position and Abete was conspicuous in his refusal to grant the coach a vote of confidence.
Earlier in the week, Abete had said: “It is positive in terms of the quality of the group of players and I am delighted by the great bond created in the group. But we are aware that our overall capacity and skills have not matched the level we expected.”
Then yesterday he announced to Gazzetta dello Sport that “the contract is extinct.”
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