Prandelli set to be named Italy boss

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli moved a step closer to taking over as Italy boss yesterday with reports suggesting he has signed a four-year contract to succeed Marcello Lippi after the World Cup.

Italian federation president Giancarlo Abete was given permission by the Serie A club earlier this month to talk to Prandelli, and the two men met in Rome yesterday to discuss the matter.

Lippi stepped down as Azzurri coach after leading the team to World Cup glory in Germany four years ago, but resumed the role two years ago.

The 62-year-old will again leave his post after this summer's showpiece event in South Africa, and believes the federation have got the right man in Prandelli to replace him.

"I told the president Abete at Christmas that I intended to finish these two years and then leave," Lippi said.

"Prandelli is the right person in the right place, but we will talk about this more in depth in the future.

"We will also talk further down the line, if you like, of the reasons which have pushed me to leave the national team for the second time."

Former national coach Arrigo Sacchi is also confident Prandelli will do a fine job at the Italy helm.

He told Sky Italia: "Cesare has shown already many times that he is a great coach, a great personality.

"He is technically excellent and a person I respect. Working for the national team is not like being a club coach - you are a coach that has to do a lot in a short space of time."

Prandelli is the longest-serving coach in Serie A, having joined Fiorentina in the summer of 2005. The 52-year-old is under contract with the Florence club until June 2011.