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Just a few days after the fourth triumph in the history with Italy at the World Cup, national team head coach Marcello Lippi announced his resignation from his duties. The coach rejected the Italian Football Federation's (FIGC) offer to extend his contract for another two years and officially resigned on Wednesday.
"After an incredible professional and human experience, leading an exceptional group of players and top-level staff, I believe that my role as the coach of the Italian national team has come to an end. I informed the Italian Football Federation of my desire to leave the position once my contract ends. I thank them for the trust shown to me during these two years of work, the result of which will forever remain in history and in the hearts of all Italian fans. I believe I have achieved what I set out to achieve as the coach of the Italian team," said M. Lippi in a press statement after leading the team for two years and 17 days.
The former Juventus coach took over the position two years ago from Giovanni Trapattoni after the very unsuccessful 2004 European Championship. While working with the national team, M. Lippi rejuvenated the team and in 29 matches, won 18 (including the match against France), drew nine, and lost only two games - the debut match against Iceland and the match against Slovenia. Both matches took place in 2004.
It is believed that the coach had already decided to leave his position before the successful journey towards the planet's champions title that ended on Sunday. It is still unclear what M. Lippi, who has won all possible titles in Italy during his career and almost everything in international competitions, will do next. The coach was linked with Manchester United but rejected such rumors, stating that he does not speak English.
Meanwhile, there are currently four candidates for the vacant position of the Italian national team coach - the main contender is Roberto Donadoni, who was dismissed from Livorno last season, as well as Alberto Zaccheroni, who has coached almost all the most famous clubs in the country, youth team coach Claudio Gentile, and former M. Lippi disciple Gianluca Vialli, who has coached in England.
The first official match of the newly crowned world champions Italy will take place on September 2, 2008, in the European Championship qualifiers against Lithuania. In Group B, along with Italy and Lithuania, there will also be the world vice-champion France, Ukraine, and the national teams of Scotland, Georgia, and the Faroe Islands.
