Lippi quits as Italy coach

Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi has resigned, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced yesterday.

The 58-year-old Lippi led the Azzurri to their fourth World Cup title, first since 1982, on Sunday when they beat France on penalties in the final in Berlin.

"At the end of an extraordinary professional and human experience at the head of an exceptional group of players, and with the collaboration of a first-rate staff, I believe I have come to the end of my role as coach of the Italian national team," he said.

"I have, therefore, communicated to the FIGC my wish to leave my post at the end of my contract."

In two years under Lippi's guidance, Italy lost only twice - a 2-0 defeat on his debut against Iceland and a 1-0 loss to Slovenia, both in 2004.

"I would like to thank the FIGC for the faith they showed in me in these two years of work, crowned with a result that will remain in the history of Italian football and in the hearts of all the fans," Lippi said.

In the past few days Italian media had speculated that Lippi was about to leave his post. He was said to be tired of hearing his name mentioned in connection with the match-fixing scandal involving four top Serie A clubs.

FIGC vice-president Giancarlo Abete thanked Lippi for his "extraordinary professionalism and for his ability to lead the team in the context of the great difficulties known to all." He revealed Lippi's decision had been taken some time ago.

"Lippi told me during the group stages that he had not taken on any professional commitments for the future and that he had already decided, whatever the result of the World Cup, to leave as coach of the national team at the end of his contract," Abete said.

Among those who had called for Lippi to stay on was Enzo Bearzot, the coach who led Italy to glory at the 1982 World Cup.

"History should decide whether you've reached the end of a cycle," he was quoted as saying.

The FIGC has not yet named a successor, though media reports suggested there are three front-runners for the job, ex-Italy and Milan midfielder Roberto Donadoni, former Milan coach Alberto Zaccheroni and the current Italy under-21 coach Claudio Gentile.

Italy have also yet to name their opponents for their next match, a friendly on August 16.

Their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign starts against Lithuania on September 2, with a repeat of the World Cup final against France on September 6.

Lippi's path to World Cup glory

¤ 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 1993-94 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 Juve, 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. 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 resigned.

¤ 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 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.

¤ 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 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.