Euro 2008 - Lippi returns to manage Italy

Eurosport - Thu, 26 Jun 22:30:00 2008

World Cup-winner Marcello Lippi has returned to coach the Italian national team, replacing Roberto Donadoni.

FOOTBALL Euro 2008 Lippi Italy - 0

The 60-year-old's return was announced just hours after the sacking of Donadoni following Italy's exit from Euro 2008.

Lippi became a national hero when he guided the Azzurri to glory at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He left his post shortly afterwards and has not coached since.

"I'm very, very happy and I'm very motivated," Lippi said after his appointment was announced.

He will be officially presented next Tuesday, July 1, at a press conference in Rome.

Lippi is one of the most successful coaches in Italian history, winning five Serie A titles and the 1996 Champions League with Juventus. Internazionale and Napoli also feature among his former clubs.

The Italian FA decided not to renew Donadoni's contract after Italy lost Sunday's quarter-final against Spain on penalties.

A statement read: "The Federation considers the contractual relationship with Roberto Donadoni to have run out at its natural expiry date."

Italy did not have to formally dismiss the 44-year-old as the two-year contract extension he signed just before the tournament was conditional on Italy reaching the semi-finals.

"Today president (Giancarlo) Abete received national team coach Roberto Donadoni at the FA's offices to assess the work done over the last two years and the performance at the European championship," the statement continued.

"In confirming his appreciation for the seriousness and skilled professionalism that distinguished his work at the helm of the national team, president Abete also informed the coach of the decision."

Donadoni, who took charge in July 2006 after the World Cup triumph in Germany, paid the price for the Azzurri's tired and uninspiring showing at Euro 2008, where they won just one game from four.

"I'm sorry that a penalty has determined this situation," the former Italy and Milan midfielder said after being informed of the decision.

"In these two years my Italy team have done something positive. One match cannot wipe that out."

Marcello Lippi factbox

* After a modest playing career with Savona, Sampdoria and Pistoiese, Lippi began coaching in 1982 with Sampdoria's youth team. He worked his way through the lower divisions before arriving in Serie A in 1989 at the helm of Cesena.

* Spells with Lucchese and Atalanta followed before his breakthrough in the 1993-94 season, when he led a Napoli side still smarting from the departure of Diego Maradona to a UEFA Cup place. The following season he was snapped up by Juventus, the start of a five-year reign during which he won three Serie A titles and the 1996 Champions League.

* In 1999 Lippi moved on to Inter Milan. The club had not won the Serie A title since 1989 and his season there was the only failure on his CV. After watching Inter lose to Reggina in the first game of the 2000-01 season, a furious Lippi said his players needed "a kick up the arse". He resigned days later.

* A year out of work ended in July 2001 when he was recalled to Juventus. His second stint in Turin was almost as successful as his first - the club won two Serie A titles and finished runner-up to AC Milan after a penalty shoot-out in the 2003 Champions League final.

* Italy's group stage exit in Euro 2004 opened the way for Lippi to take over from Giovanni Trapattoni as coach of the Azzurri. His appointment was not universally popular with fans, many of whom associated him with Juventus. A 2-0 defeat on his debut by Iceland was hardly the ideal start but Italy qualified for the World Cup with a game to spare, the first time they had done so since qualifying for the 1982 tournament.

* After Italy's pre-World Cup wins over the Netherlands and Germany, Lippi was hailed as a tactical genius. Shortly before the start of the World Cup his son, Davide, was questioned by magistrates in Rome investigating sports agency GEA World. Briefly, it seemed Lippi might be forced to step down in the cull of leading officials touched by a match-fixing scandal. After receiving a vote of confidence from Italian Football Federation commissioner Guido Rossi, Lippi kept his job, leading Italy through a shaky start to victory in Berlin.

* Four days after beating France in the World Cup final, Lippi announced that he would not renew his contract with Italy, saying he wanted to take a sabbatical from management. He has not managed a team since, and reportedly turned down offers to take charge of Mexico and Juventus.

Eurosport / Reuters

Comment 24 - 43 of 43

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  1. Forza Azzuri, it's time now to show the world the real Italian squarda.
    wellcome back Don lippi

    From flowna77, on Sat 5 Jul 12:12PM

  2. Harry:are you including 1934 and 1938 "alleged" titles? Does the name "Mussolini" mean anything? Remember corrupt referees Louis Baert and Ivan Elkind?

    From Big Kahuna !, on Fri 27 Jun 10:42AM

  3. GOOD TO SEE LIPPI BACK. HE'S A BETTER TACTITION THAN DONADONI. BUT w/ THAT SAID. PENALTY KICK SHOOT-OUTS HAVE DETERMINED THE FATE OF BOTH OF THESE COACHES. IF ITALY MISSES TWO OF THEIR KICKS IN THE FINALS OF THE WORLD CUP, LIPPI ISN'T A GENIOUS AS EVERYONE THINKS. IF ITALY MAKES TWO OF THEIR KICKS AGAINST SPAIN IN EURO 2008, NO DOUBT IN MY MIND ITALY SWEEPS THROUGH RUSSIA AND GERMANY TO WIN EURO 2008. DONADONI CONSIDERED TO BE A GENIOUS. THERE IS A VERY FINE LINE THAT DETERMINED BOTH OF THESE COACHES FUTURE. DONADONI WAS AT A DISADVANTAGE, NOT HAVING CANNAVARO, GATTUSO AND PIRLO AGAINST SPAIN. I HOPE LIPPI WINS ANOTHER TITLE w/ ITALY IN 2010 WORLD CUP. BUT BEFORE THAT HAPPENS HE HAS A LOT OF ROSTER CHANGES AHEAD OF HIM. ITALY NEEDS TO GET YOUNGER QUICK. I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING SOON. I DON'T THINK ITALY WILL REPEAT AS CHAMPIONS IN 2010. BUT THAT'S WHY THEY PLAY THE GAME. FORZA ITALIA! IN THE MEANTIME WE ARE STILL WORLD CHAMPIONS. GOD BLESS ITALIA!

    From mp_homes, on Fri 27 Jun 6:15AM

  4. With Lippi, Italia will again become the champion of World cup 2010 in South Africa. But I actually hope that Italia will not meet England under the Italian coach of Capelo. Both of them are very very great / the best coaches in the worlds. Welcome Lippi! Viva Italia! For me, Euro 2008 is now unmeaning without Azzurie! German or Spain win the final is not important with me! Best for both teams! FORZA ITALIA! I ALWAYS STAND BY YOU!

    From MR. JANG, on Fri 27 Jun 5:17AM

  5. With Lippi, Italia will again become the champion of World cup 2010 in South Africa. But I actually hope that Italia will not meet England under the Italian coach of Capelo. Both of them are very very great / the best coachs in the worlds. Welcome Lippi! Viva Italia! For me, Euro 2008 is now unmeaning without Azzurie! German or Spain win the final is not important with me! Best for both teams! FORZA ITALIA! I ALWAYS STAND BY YOU!

    From MR. JANG, on Fri 27 Jun 5:17AM

  6. This message is for all the people who critisize Italy. Each of you have 5 fingers on your hands..Now listen carefully..stick one of your middle fingers in your A@*..the last four fingers are Italy World Cup Victories! Forza Azzurri and Forza Ferrari!!!

    From M.D, on Fri 27 Jun 3:12AM

  7. TURKEY are the Champions of EURO 2008
    The rest of the countries are nothing, so booring, and ignorant and sheet.

    From JACK THE, on Thu 26 Jun 10:46PM

  8. italy is @#$%

    From eepikas, on Thu 26 Jun 10:45PM

  9. Don't forget Lippi has achieved alot in football, more than any of our silly managers from the past, apart from Sir Alf Ramsey. I think he will do well with any team. I followed Juventus closely, remember when he signed Zidane, he had Nedved, Zambrotta, Del piero, Buffon, Davids.....what a side. Kick any club teams arse nowadays. Especially the team you support ASUF, or is it based on another planet? SFB

    From Harry, on Thu 26 Jun 10:23PM

  10. ASUF, Italy have won four world cups and brazil five - are you so old to remember all of these?!! You really need to think about sport in a different way, after all whatever the sport, individual or team - you do get those who don't play well that DO WIN as well as those who do play well. You absolute muppet

    From Harry, on Thu 26 Jun 10:15PM

  11. After all James P an Italian called Fabio Capello is coaching england, don`t worry you will get over it! I hope you look forward to learn a thing or two from Mr. Capello

    From gpcharrion, on Thu 26 Jun 10:11PM

  12. james P ur ignorant mate and jelous aswell but maybe according to ur comment then lippi would be the right manager for england lol

    From vale46, on Thu 26 Jun 9:58PM

  13. I always though he should have stayed after the 06 worldcup. We can't always blame Donadoni for Italy's failure. The players should take a share of the blame for a terrible peformance. Was it Luca Toni's evil twin we saw at the championships? The big lumbering Toni should have been on a golden boot by know. Also the average age of the Italian team is 32 and i would advise Lippi to bring the young promising talent forward as he can't always rely on the old guns; just ask France:)

    From melaniejhutton, on Thu 26 Jun 9:29PM

  14. I always though he should have stayed after the 06 worldcup. We can't always blame Donadoni for Italy's failure. The players should take a share of the blame for a terrible peformance. Was it Luca Toni's evil twin we saw at the championships? The big lumbering Toni should have been on a golden boot by know. Also the average age of the Italian team is 32 and i would advise Lippi to bring the young promising talent forward as he can't always rely on the old guns; just ask France:)

    From melaniejhutton, on Thu 26 Jun 9:27PM

  15. maybe lippi will bring back coruption in football so the italians can win another tournement, go spain go spain, NO NEED FOR CHEATS IN FOOTBALL, lippi won loads of trophies cheating he got out quick, why else would a manager retire after winning world cup, he knew that fa was onto them

    From JAMES P, on Thu 26 Jun 9:14PM

  16. john paul:Name one WC that Italy actually deserved to win?

    From Big Kahuna !, on Thu 26 Jun 8:49PM

  17. ASUF, Don't be jealous of the Wrold Champs. It's OK you'll get over it.

    From johnpaul_difazio, on Thu 26 Jun 8:34PM

  18. the truth:you must be a mathematician,if I am not mistaken!!

    From Big Kahuna !, on Thu 26 Jun 8:32PM

  19. Donadoni sucks. He has got no guts and no respect in the team. Good news Lippi is back!

    From brainless, on Thu 26 Jun 8:20PM

  20. ASUF i did not know there was only 22 Italian footballers in the world.IGNORANT REMARK. Lippi back is good news

    From the truth, on Thu 26 Jun 8:08PM
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