Chinese soccer side signs Italian World Cup winner
By Ni Yinbin |
May 18, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Soccer World Cup-winning Italian coach Marcello Lippi has been signed as head coach of Guangzhou Evergrande in the latest foreign acquisition by clubs in China's Super League.
Xu Jiayin, president of the Evergrande group and the club, said the club had been in contact with Lippi for over a year and was now hoping he would take Evergrande to the AFC Champions League championship.
Lippi's contract will run to November 2014, the club in China's southern industrial city announced at a press conference yesterday. His salary was not disclosed.
Lippi, 64, led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006 but he has not worked since leaving the post in 2010 following the national side's ignominious performance when they became the first defending champions to exit the World Cup at the group stage.
"I'll give my maximum passion and professional background to support my job like I did at Juventus and Inter Milan," Lippi told reporters yesterday in comments translated from Italian.
"The important thing is to bring the Italian concept to China. I'm thankful for Evergrande's warm welcome."
The Evergrande announcement follows persistent media rumors and comes despite manager Lee Jang-Soo this week taking the team into the AFC Champions League knock-out rounds.
In a statement, the club said Lee would step down as the team's head coach, but it was unclear whether he would be staying on in another capacity.
At the press conference, which was broadcast live on Chinese television, Lippi said he was first contacted by the club in May last year and had since become familiar with all the players.
"I dispatched an assistant to go and see the club's matches, which made me even more determined. I am very enthusiastic about coming to China," he said.
"I've been paying attention to Evergrande's games in the past few months including the Super League and the Champions League and I know almost all the players."
Lippi said he was in the process of persuading his assistant coaches to join the club.
"I like the team's spirit," Lippi added.
The World Cup-champion coach said he was expecting the fans to follow the team at both home and away matches.
"I'd love to see everyone in the city wearing the club's jersey and no matter it's home or away game, the fans to follow us," Lippi said. "I'd like to emphasize that the fans should follow us when we go to play in other cities."
On his predecessor in the role, Lippi said: "I thank Lee for the great results he had brought the team.
"Based on Lee's work, I'll keep leading the team forward."
That 2010 World Cup debacle aside, the silver-haired Italian comes with excellent credentials after winning the Champions League with Juventus, with whom he also won several Serie A titles.
Xu Jiayin, president of the Evergrande group and the club, said the club had been in contact with Lippi for over a year and was now hoping he would take Evergrande to the AFC Champions League championship.
Lippi's contract will run to November 2014, the club in China's southern industrial city announced at a press conference yesterday. His salary was not disclosed.
Lippi, 64, led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006 but he has not worked since leaving the post in 2010 following the national side's ignominious performance when they became the first defending champions to exit the World Cup at the group stage.
"I'll give my maximum passion and professional background to support my job like I did at Juventus and Inter Milan," Lippi told reporters yesterday in comments translated from Italian.
"The important thing is to bring the Italian concept to China. I'm thankful for Evergrande's warm welcome."
The Evergrande announcement follows persistent media rumors and comes despite manager Lee Jang-Soo this week taking the team into the AFC Champions League knock-out rounds.
In a statement, the club said Lee would step down as the team's head coach, but it was unclear whether he would be staying on in another capacity.
At the press conference, which was broadcast live on Chinese television, Lippi said he was first contacted by the club in May last year and had since become familiar with all the players.
"I dispatched an assistant to go and see the club's matches, which made me even more determined. I am very enthusiastic about coming to China," he said.
"I've been paying attention to Evergrande's games in the past few months including the Super League and the Champions League and I know almost all the players."
Lippi said he was in the process of persuading his assistant coaches to join the club.
"I like the team's spirit," Lippi added.
The World Cup-champion coach said he was expecting the fans to follow the team at both home and away matches.
"I'd love to see everyone in the city wearing the club's jersey and no matter it's home or away game, the fans to follow us," Lippi said. "I'd like to emphasize that the fans should follow us when we go to play in other cities."
On his predecessor in the role, Lippi said: "I thank Lee for the great results he had brought the team.
"Based on Lee's work, I'll keep leading the team forward."
That 2010 World Cup debacle aside, the silver-haired Italian comes with excellent credentials after winning the Champions League with Juventus, with whom he also won several Serie A titles.
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