MILAN, May 25 (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson once compared Italy coach Marcello Lippi to American actor Paul Newman and the former Juventus boss will be hoping he is in for a "Long Hot Summer" for the right reasons at the World Cup finals in Germany.

He hopes to be able to concentrate on the World Cup without the distractions of the ongoing investigation into corruption involving Serie A clubs.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi walks on the field during a pre-World Cup soccer training camp in Coverciano.[Reuters]

Lippi has been swept up in the investigation along with many others, but has denied any wrongdoing.

Lippi took over Italy after their dismal performance in Portugal at Euro 2004 where they were eliminated in the group stage after going into the competition as one of the favourites.

The silver-haired tactician has successfully given the Azzurri an injection of the realism and steel which made him so successful in his two spells at Juventus.

At the Turin club, Lippi won five Italian titles and took the club to four Champions League finals, winning the continent's top trophy in 1996.

Between 1994 and 1999 his Juve team, including players such as Gianluca Vialli, Roberto Baggio and Alessandro Del Piero, were permanent contenders in Serie A and in Europe.

Viareggio-born Lippi then decided to take on the challenge of restoring the fortunes of Inter Milan but like those who went before and those who followed him he was unable to end Inter's struggle to win their first scudetto since 1989.

Without Lippi for two seasons, Juventus finished second twice and, not surprisingly, after Lippi was sacked by Inter, Juve wasted no time in bringing him "home".

Juve pipped Inter to the title on the final day of the 2001-02 season and then cantered to a second victory a year later.

The shine of that success was removed somewhat by the 2003 defeat on penalties to AC Milan in the Champions League final -- a third defeat in four finals for Lippi.

The following season Juve struggled to keep pace with Milan and Roma in Serie A and were eliminated from the Champions League by Deportivo Coruna in the first knockout phase -- leading Lippi to resign and wait for his chance with Italy.

After Giovanni Trapattoni's failure at the European Championships, the Italian Football Federation showed no hesitation in turning to Lippi and he has delivered exactly what was expected of him.

Few players talk with affection about Lippi but respect is almost universal for the former Sampdoria player even though he is a coach who is not afraid to rebuke his players publicly.

Shortly before he left Inter he described the team as being made up of "spoilt children" and asked club president Massimo Moratti to "kick their backsides".

He will be hoping not to have to repeat either phrase come Germany next month.