Trapattoni ready to leave

Benfica coach Giovanni Trapattoni, who steered the Lisbon club to a first league title in 11 years, is ready to return to Italy after only one season.

Sports newspapers said Lazio were interested in hiring Trapattoni after only one year at Benfica, Portugal's most popular club.

"I miss home a lot," he said in an interview with Italian radio carried by TSF radio yesterday.

"The country (Portugal) is not an issue, it is fantastic. The sea is only 10 kms away, the weather is really good.

"It's a great satisfaction to have built this team. I still have one year on my contract but I plan to return to Italy. I am ready to leave."

Benfica clinched their first title since 1994 with a 1-1 draw against Boavista on Sunday. They can claim the double if they beat Vitoria Setubal in tomorrow's Portuguese Cup final.

The title was the seventh in Trapattoni's long career which also includes spells with several of Europe's leading clubs including Juventus and Bayern Munich.

Despite the 66-year-old Trapattoni's comments Benfica chairman Luis Filipe Vieira said he believed he would still be at the club next season.

"Within what is planned, he will be the Benfica coach and will keep on with the work he is carrying out," Vieira said in an interview with TVI television.

"We're only going to talk after the Cup, but we want him to stay on."