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The new head coach of the World Champions Italy is the "Milan" club legend and former "Livorno" strategist Roberto Donadoni, who took over the position after Marcello Lippi resigned from his duties following the World Cup.
The 42-year-old coach, who played for the national team in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, has reportedly signed a two-year contract with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and is expected to be presented to the media on Tuesday in Rome.
In 2001, he started his coaching career with the fourth-tier "Serie C2" league team "Lecco," later managing "Livorno" and "Genoa" clubs, but was dismissed from the latter after just three matches. In 2005, midway through the season, R. Donadoni returned to "Livorno" and managed to save the team from relegation from "Serie A."
The following season, he led the unfancied club to sixth place in the top league, but shockingly resigned after being publicly criticized by "Livorno" president Aldo Spinelli. However, later on, when another coach Carlo Mazzone suffered seven consecutive defeats, A. Spinelli admitted wanting to bring back R. Donadoni, but the coach declined the offer.
Born in Bergamo, the Italian player's career began with the local team "Atalanta," but in 1986 R. Donadoni moved to "Milan," with whom he won the Italian championship five times in a decade, as well as the European Cup three times, the UEFA Super Cup three times, and the Intercontinental Cup twice. In 1996, R. Donadoni moved to the USA and played for the New York "Metrostars," but returned to Milan after two years to win another national championship title, ending his football career in Saudi Arabia playing for "Al-Ittihad."
