In two years under his guidance, Italy lost only twice — a 2-0 defeat on his debut against Iceland and a 1-0 loss to Slovenia, both in 2004.
ROME: Italy’s World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi has resigned, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced on Wednesday. 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 in a statement on the FIGC’s web site.
“I have, therefore, communicated to the FIGC my wish to leave my post at the end of my contract (on July 31).”
Lippi took over from Giovanni Trapattoni in July 2004 after Italy’’s disappointing exit in the group stages of Euro 2004. 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. Italian press agency ANSA quoted him as saying he wanted to continue coaching.
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 including champions Juventus, with whom he won five Serie A titles and the 1996 Champions League in two stints as coach between 1994 and 2004. 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 1982 coach.
“History should decide whether you’ve reached the end of a cycle,” he was quoted as saying in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Highlights of Lippi’s career:
- 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 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.
- 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.
- Italy’s group stage exit in Euro 2004 opened the way for Lippi to take over from Giovanni Trapattoni as coach of the Azzurri.
- 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 GEA World.
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