Lippi replaces Donadoni as Italy coach
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-27 13:05

ROME - Italy recalled World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi on Thursday to replace Roberto Donadoni following their Euro 2008 failure.


Italy's team coach Roberto Donadoni gives a press conference in Rome's National football federation headquarters to announce his contract with the Italian team has expired and will not be renewed. [Agencies] 

The lacklustre world champions were eliminated by Spain in a quarter-final penalty shootout on Sunday and the Italian soccer federation (FIGC) wasted little time in reacting.

"I'm very, very happy and very motivated," Lippi told the ANSA news agency.

The 60-year-old has not worked as a manager since resigning after Italy's World Cup triumph in Germany two years ago.

Lippi turned down a possible return to former club Juventus as well as several other job offers. He has occasionally hinted he regretted quitting the national job and now has the chance to restore the Azzurri's battered pride.

Hours before Lippi's appointment, Donadoni was told he had lost his job at a meeting with federation president Giancarlo Abete.

The federation did not have to formally dismiss the 44-year-old as the two-year contract extension he signed before Euro 2008 was conditional on Italy reaching the semi-finals.

"The federation considers the contractual relationship with Roberto Donadoni to have run out at its natural expiry date," a statement read.

SCANT IMPROVEMENT

Donadoni paid the price for Italy's tired showing at Euro 2008 where they won one game out of four.

A 3-0 drubbing by the Dutch in the opening group game prompted an overhaul of the team but there was scant improvement in the 1-1 draw with Romania as keeper Gianluigi Buffon saved a late penalty to keep Italy in the tournament.

A 2-0 win over 10-man France papered over the cracks and they were fortunate to draw 0-0 with Spain and take the tie to a shootout.

Captain Fabio Cannavaro was ruled out of the tournament with injury before the start while refereeing decisions also went against them but bad luck could not be blamed for their exit.

Donadoni, who had limited managerial experience before succeeding Lippi, refused to accept Italy played badly and seemed genuinely surprised to be leaving.

"I'm sorry a penalty has determined this situation," the former Italy and AC Milan midfielder told La Gazzetta dello Sport's website (www.gazzetta.it).

"In these two years my Italy team have done something positive. One match cannot wipe that out."

Lippi will be presented at a news conference on Tuesday and his first match will be a friendly against Austria in Nice on August 20.

Italy start their World Cup qualifying campaign in Cyprus on September 6 and at home to Georgia on September 10.

Lippi's first task will be to sort out an Italian defence which has become unusually creaky.

The international futures of several World Cup winners including striker Alessandro Del Piero also hang in the balance.