Benfica coach Trapattoni steps down

Benfica coach Giovanni Trapattoni said yesterday he was stepping down after steering the Lisbon club to its first league title in 11 years.

"I need to return to (Italy to) be with my family and I have other problems to resolve after that," Trapattoni, 66, said.

He declined to say if he would coach a club in Italy although he has recently been linked with Lazio.

The Portuguese league championship was Trapattoni's ninth title in a long career with several European clubs, including six with Juventus.

Trapattoni ended his two-year contract with Benfica after one season.

Former Benfica manager Jose Antonio Camacho, ex-Olympic Lyon coach Paul Le Guen and former Ajax Amsterdam manager Ronald Koeman are among the favourites to take over from Trapattoni, Portuguese media have reported.