Legend Lippi to lead Azzurri once more, Saturday 28 June 2008

Lippi fact-file

Full name:

Marcelo Romeo Lippi

Born:

April 12 1948 (age 60), Viareggio, Italy

Playing career:

Stella Rossa Viareggio, Sampdoria, Savona, and Pistoiese

Coaching career:

Pontedera, Siena, Pistoiese, Carrarese, Cesena, Lucchese, Atalanta, Napoli, Juventus (twice), Inter Milan, Italy (twice)

Managerial honours:

2006 World Cup, 5 Scudetti, 2 Coppa Italia, 4 Supercoppa Italiana wins, 1996 Champions League, European Supercup, Inter-Continental Cup

Following the national team's flop at Euro 2008 the FIGC have moved quickly to appoint a successor to Roberto Donadoni, with Marcello Lippi returning to the helm to steady what is possibly a sinking ship. The Italian team now looks very average compared with some of Europe's elite and lacks the team spirit of teams such as Turkey and Russia.

This is the second time that Lippi has been appointed immediately after a poor European championship performance from the Italians, coincidently on the same day of the year, June 26th on both occassions. His first stint as national team coach came after Euro 2004 when he replaced Giovanni Trapattoni. He has earnt a reputation as one of the best managers in the modern game by working his way up from the depths of the lower leagues, gaining a wealth of experience which eventually lead him to Juventus where he enjoyed instant success.

A manager for over 20 years, he has won numerous titles, including the Champions League and the World Cup. Having won just about everything with Juve he seaked a new challenge with Inter but was unable to bring about the instant success he had at the Delle Alpi, lasting a little over one season before being sacked after the first matchday of 2000/01 season. Juventus came calling for a Lippi return and he guided the team to two more Scudetto titles and reached the Champions League final, losing in a shoot-out to AC Milan.

He earns the respect of his players thanks to this flexibility as well as his own personal charisma and sincerity. His triumph in Germany 2006 was praised as reminiscent of their performance in the Spanish World Cup of 1982. After winning the tournament Lippi did not renew his contract with the Azzurri, stating that "I believe that I have achieved what I set out to achieve as the coach of the Italian team" It was the highest point of his career but he felt it was time for a well earned rest and declared his interest in a sabbatical.

Two years later he is back in a similar situation as before; having seen and done it all before you can't argue that he is not the right man for the job. However he faces a difficult challenge. Italian football has changed over Lippi's career, a new younger squad is being developed, and gone are the global superstars of the late 90's and early 00's.

Ok so Donadoni wasn't helped by Cannavaro dropping out through injury but as he said himself he would be judged over his two years in charge. But during that time, even in qualifying, the Azzurri have never been that convincing despite winning their qualifying group. Scraping through the 'Group of Death' in Austria and Switzerland could have finally kick-started Italy under Donadoni but the quality and spirit just wasn't there. This is something that Lippi will undoubtedly get to work on straight away as he prepares his side to defend their World Cup crown in South Africa, in two years time.

Puds