Lippi ready to wield the AXE

Profile

Name: Marcello Lippi

Age: 70

Nationality: Italian

Coaching career:

1982-85 Sampdoria (youth team)

1985-93 Pontedera, Siena, Pistoiese, Carrarese, Cesena, Lucchese, Atlanta.

1993-94 Napoli

1994-99 Juventus

1999-2000 Inter Milan

2001-04 Juventus

2004-10 Italy

2012-14 Guangzhou Evergrande

2016-present China

Major coaching achievements:

Italy

2006 World Cup winners

Juventus

Serie A winners: 1994-95, 1996-97, 1997-98, 2001-02, 2002-03

Coppa Italia: 1994-95

UEFA Champions League: 1995-96

UEFA Supercup: 1996

Intercontinental Cup: 1996

Guangzhou Evergrande

Chinese Super League: 2012, 2013, 2014

Chinese FA Cup: 2012

AFC Champions League: 2013

What they say

"The national team has made obvious progress under Lippi's helm. We are better than we used to be and our players deliver more of their game in intense matchups. We should give credit to Lippi and his team. We hope he continues instilling his soccer philosophy in our national program in all possible areas."

Cai Zhenhua, CFA chairman

"As a world-leading coach Lippi has brought us his experience in handling big tournaments and made us more confident. I think the team changed more mentally than technically since he took the reins. He makes us believe in ourselves and that we are competitive in Asia."

Wu Lei, Chinese national team striker

"Lippi won a lot in the past (with Evergrande from 2012-14). I hope I can achieve the same results that he got. I believe his influence around the world can help build a strong international image of Chinese soccer."

Fabio Cannavaro, head coach of Guangzhou Evergrande and a member of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning team

"It's unrealistic to count on Lippi to raise the level of the Chinese national team significantly in a short period of time. It's unfair to dream too big given our relatively weak youth development."

Zhang Lu, former vice-president of Beijing Guo'an