Prandelli to succeed Lippi at Azzurri
Source: Agencies |
May 31, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
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FIORENTINA boss Cesare Prandelli yesterday agreed a four-year deal to become Italy coach after the World Cup, ending a saga that had threatened to cast a shadow over the team's defense of its title.
Coach Marcello Lippi had never publicly said he was leaving after the June 11-July 11 tournament and conflicting signals from the World Cup winner and Italian soccer federation president Giancarlo Abete prompted an array of rumors.
Abete wanted a solution before the team flew off to South Africa and has now found his man. "Prandelli will be coach for four years," a federation spokesman said.
"Prandelli will be officially presented as Italy's coach after the World Cup," the spokesman added, saying that financial details and the composition of Prandelli's backroom staff had yet to be determined.
The 52-year-old has been frontrunner for the Italy job with the bookmakers for months after guiding the Florence club to the Champions League last 16 last season.
Lippi, who stepped down after its 2006 World Cup triumph before returning to the job following a poor Euro 2008 under Roberto Donadoni, welcomed the appointment.
"The federation has found the right person. I had said to Abete at Christmas that I would do my two years and then stop," he said.
Prandelli also notably managed Parma and AS Roma for a brief spell before leaving to care for his sick wife who later died.
Abete had said any replacement for Lippi would be Italian but his options were limited given Chelsea's Carlo Ancelotti, Manchester City's Roberto Mancini and Roma's Claudio Ranieri, who had all previously expressed interest in the job, have only just completed their first seasons with their clubs.
Coach Marcello Lippi had never publicly said he was leaving after the June 11-July 11 tournament and conflicting signals from the World Cup winner and Italian soccer federation president Giancarlo Abete prompted an array of rumors.
Abete wanted a solution before the team flew off to South Africa and has now found his man. "Prandelli will be coach for four years," a federation spokesman said.
"Prandelli will be officially presented as Italy's coach after the World Cup," the spokesman added, saying that financial details and the composition of Prandelli's backroom staff had yet to be determined.
The 52-year-old has been frontrunner for the Italy job with the bookmakers for months after guiding the Florence club to the Champions League last 16 last season.
Lippi, who stepped down after its 2006 World Cup triumph before returning to the job following a poor Euro 2008 under Roberto Donadoni, welcomed the appointment.
"The federation has found the right person. I had said to Abete at Christmas that I would do my two years and then stop," he said.
Prandelli also notably managed Parma and AS Roma for a brief spell before leaving to care for his sick wife who later died.
Abete had said any replacement for Lippi would be Italian but his options were limited given Chelsea's Carlo Ancelotti, Manchester City's Roberto Mancini and Roma's Claudio Ranieri, who had all previously expressed interest in the job, have only just completed their first seasons with their clubs.
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