Lippi: I Want Barcelona Job

World Cup-winning former Italy national team boss Marcello Lippi has revealed how he turned down the chance to become Coach of Juventus again, but says he would be interested in taking over either Barcelona or Fiorentina.


Lippi has been out of the game since stepping down as Coach of the Azzurri following the World Cup success in Germany in the summer of 2006.



The Viareggio-born tactician turns 60 in April, and he has confirmed that he will definitely return to management next season.

"I am ready to return to coach,” Lippi declared.

“I've refused many offers, including that of Juve. At the time I wasn't ready.

“I think I may have stayed out too long. It was a mistake, but I am not rusty.”

Lippi has already enjoyed incredible success with Juventus during two separate spells at the club and many Bianconeri fans are still harbouring hopes that he could return again in time for next season.

However it seems that the Paul Newman look-alike has his eyes on another of Europe’s giants – Barcelona.

The Catalan-outfit are certain to replace current boss Frank Rijkaard in the summer, and Lippi has thrown his name into the ring as a possible successor.

"I want to coach a club that is built on young players, such as Fiorentina or foreign teams like Barcelona," he concluded.

Fiorentina or Barcelona interest him?

Both with contrast characteristics, and both would prove to be challenges. I think he can do great things with either club but Viola dont have the ambition or financial pulling power to entice Lippi and Cesare is doing a good job with them currently.

Him + Barcelona squad would easily equal unbeatable in most peoples books. But i dont know if they are compatible, Lippi demands respect and is known for his discipline. Not easy to control Deco,Ronaldinho,Eto'o etc..plus i think they banned the smoking of cigars at the Nou Camp, that could be a decisive factor. You heard it here!

If he does manage Barcelona next season I wonder where Rijkaard is going to end up. I think he's a really good manager and some barca fans don't give him much credit. Would be gutted if he became the replacement of Ferguson or Rafa.

Felt it was about time we changed the title of the thread...it looked ridiculous!

Anyway, I guess we will follow Lippis future, all the big clubs he is linked to and who he may possibly replace in here from now on!

Channel4

Lippi returns to Azzurri job


It has been confirmed that Marcello Lippi will return to the Italy bench after the departure of Roberto Donadoni earlier this afternoon.

The Viareggio-born mastermind led the Azzurri to World Cup glory in 2006, but he left the job to take a Sabbatical.

Donadoni failed to live up to the expectations generated by his predecessor at Euro 2008 and his contract was declared void earlier today.

The Italian Press have been predicting Lippi’s return for months and now it is official.

The FIGC has confirmed that the former Juventus boss will take the reins and will be unveiled on July 1 in a Press conference in Rome.

"I am very, very, very happy," Lippi said. "I am also very motivated."

Between 2004 and 2006, Lippi took charge of Italy for 29 games and picked up 17 wins, 10 draws and just two defeats.

I know of some Italians who class the both of them as traitors to the shirt

Actually they are AC Milan fans or Fiorentina fans and it's pretty unanimous that both of them are traitors not just one of them

I wonder if this means Nesta and Totti will return as was suggested in the media, I know of some Italians who class the both of them as traitors to the shirt.

and with their susceptibility to injury

Lippi: Life Begins At 60

Marcello Lippi has spoken of his delight at returning to coach Italy, and says despite his 60 years of age, he has the “enthusiasm of a little boy”.

Lippi was last week confirmed as the successor to Roberto Donadoni, returning to the post he held from 2004 to 2006, and of which culminated in winning the World Cup in Germany.

Some people have questioned whether the 60-year-old Lippi, having won everything in the game, will still possess the motivation required for success.

“It is good to discover that life begins at 60,” Lippi told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Inside me I have the enthusiasm of a little boy."

The Azzurri’s doctor under Lippi was Enrico Castellacci, and he explains how the spirit of the national team has never left the former Juve coach.

"He has never ceased to feel like the coach of Italy,” said Castellacci.

“In these past two years he has continued to tell the world about the World Cup in Germany, in the schools, theatres, prisons, and hospitals.

“And when he got tired of doing this he took the boat away in the sea. The salty water is his second skin.”

Lippi will be officially presented before the press as Italy’s new coach tomorrow.

Lippi’s First Italy Press Conference

Marcello Lippi has given his first Press conference since returning as coach of Italy, and he has outlined his plans ahead of the 2010 World Cup campaign.

Lippi Returns

Lippi coached the Azzurri from 2004 to 2006, but left after famously leading the country to World Cup glory in Germany. However he has now returned to the bench after his successor Roberto Donadoni could only take Italy to the quarter finals of Euro 2008.

“Naturally I am happy to pick up where I left off, even though that means our Nazionale did not do as well as we all thought,” explained Lippi.

“When I was asked by Federations to go and coach their country, I said no tactician who won the World Cup with his own country could try to do the same with another nation a year later.

“I received some very, very interesting offers, but as the European Championship approached I felt the strong desire to regain the place I had left and made myself ready for this opportunity if it arose. I won't list all the sides I turned down, but from a certain point onwards I felt the need to return.

“I felt in debt to the Federation and therefore my way of repaying that would be turning down all the other alternatives.”

The Right Balance

With 14 of Italy’s Euro 2008 squad over the age of 30, Lippi was asked if he would revolutionise the side, however he said that a balance between young and old is the way forward.

“We must be careful not to fall into the trap of following the wave of enthusiasm in Spain where there are some very young players who until now had won nothing, but at club level have a great deal of experience,” he noted.

“In recent years they reached that level of performance to earn a deserved European Championship.

“We are in a different situation. We have a group of players who two years ago won the World Cup with a fantastic performance. We must find a balance between using those experienced players and finding new faces who can fit into the squad.

“I love all those players who shared this experience with me, but that doesn't mean they will all stay on. Some certainly have a lot more to give and we need to find a balance.”

Catenaccio Is Dead

Italy were criticised at Euro 2008 for being too negative, and Lippi says that the age of Catenaccio is over, promising attacking football once again from his side.

“We have proved a thousand times at club and international level that the age of Catenaccio is dead,” he stated.

“Italian football has changed so much from the clichés and certainly does not just sit back and defend. Don't forget we played a portion of the World Cup Final with four strikers on the field.

“We will aim to create an immediate competitive squad that plays in an aggressive, attacking and intelligent fashion.

“I admire the new unity in European teams, with sides such as Manchester United who have Wayne Rooney helping out in midfield, and that is something we have done to a degree already and will do so more."

No Return For Totti & Nesta

There has been talk in the press that Lippi will talk Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta out of international retirements, but it seems that this will not be the case.

“I firmly believe we should respect the opinion of two great players who have given so much to the Nazionale,” the 60-year-old explained.

“I have absolutely no intention of trying to talk them out of retirement, as they have made their decision.

“If anything, I can give advice to anyone who arrives at a certain stage of their career with difficulty dealing with a packed fixture list and injuries so they decide to retire from international duty.

“Don't say 'I quit the national team,' instead explain they are temporarily dedicating themselves to the club because they cannot handle the two requirements, that way if there are injuries and suspensions so they are needed, then they can come back. I think some of those who made this decision to retire do regret in a way the manner of their departure.

“I speak to Totti on the phone fairly often and saw him at my birthday party. We have never talked about the Nazionale and won't start now. I respect the decision of professionals who made a choice that I'm sure it hurt them to make.”

Squad Unity

Lippi’s 2006 World Cup success was built on squad unity, and he is looking to revive this for the 2010 campaign in South Africa.

“My idea is to revive the squad I left behind,” he noted.

“I don't think it is one that needs to be shelved or scrapped entirely, but rather with new arrivals who can fit in.

“We played in several different tactical forms during those two years and it is important to create organisation between the defence and midfield with two or three creative players upfront.

“It doesn't matter so much whether they are centre-forwards, wingers or support strikers, the real question is the overall mentality of a team that tries to pressure its opponents and also knows when to defend.

“It would be lovely to dominate a game for 90 minutes, but that means you are facing a really poor opponent. A great team must know how to attack, maintain and defend.

“Undoubtedly if I came back here it is because those sensations we felt two years ago were so wonderful that we wanted to repeat them.

“In that I don't so much mean the joy of victory, but the time you spend with the entire squad of 30-35 players throughout two years to create a solid and psychologically united team. That is the only real condition needed to win a competition.”

Qualifying Group

Italy have a generally weak World Cup qualifying group, including Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland, but Lippi is taking nothing for granted. “It is important not to assume qualification will be a formality,” he warned.

“That is the worst mistake a side can make and the best way to begin an unsuccessful spell. Only once we qualify for the World Cup can we begin even thinking about winning the tournament against the likes of Brazil, Argentina and Germany.

“We faced Ireland in a friendly in August 2005 and it was a tough game, our first at the end of a year in which we had experimented the new side.

It was there we started to think in a certain way about building the system and our confidence in our own abilities.

“I am sure Trapattoni will give them even more strength and unity, so Ireland will be a formidable opponent,” Lippi concluded.

Marcello Lippi was officially presented as the "new" manager of the Azzurri today

I don't understand the hate for Catenaccio... the important is the way you use it, no?

"Catenaccio" is simply used ubiquitously as a derogatory term by people who don't know what they're talking about

I don't understand the hate for Catenaccio... the important is the way you use it, no?

I'm also happy to see Lippi claiming that he wants to use some new faces

It doesn't have to be just sitting back and playing nothing but defense. People just don't understand my friend

he's forced, some players in 2010 will be "nonni" ... then Materazzi at EC shows we can't have faith older players will recover injuries...
some people don't want understand it, also for racism, cultural or not...

Lippi's first comments: "I'll start where I left off"

Donadoni's successor: "I turned down some important offers because I had a debt to the Italian FA. What kind of football will we play? Aggressive, expansive and resourceful. Totti and Nesta? They won't come back. The new group will combine old and new players."

Marcello Lippi returns to coach Italy after two years with Donadoni in charge.

ROME, 1 July 2008 - Tanned, a few kilos overweight, enthusiastic (as he pointed out several times) and sure of himself. This is how Marcello Lippi presented himself as the new Italy boss, successor to Donadoni, having won the World Cup with Italy only two years ago. Talking for over an hour, he ranged over more or less everything.

PREAMBLE - "Good to see you again. I'm very happy to be taking up where I left off. But this means that things didn't go very well at the recent European Championships, or I'd still be on the beach in Viareggio."

RETURN - "Have these two years been lost, both for me and the national team? I would never have left the national side if I hadn't had to do so for certain reasons not connected with the outcome of the World Cup. But these two years haven't been wasted for the Azzurri. Donadoni has integrated important new players into the group of world champions. The true expression of a nation's football isn't found in its clubs but in its national team. Why did I want to come back? For a year I didn't even consider a return to management, despite the many offers, including from other national sides. As the European Championships approached I felt a great desire to take up the place I had left, and I made myself available should the circumstances arise for my return. I felt a certain debt towards the FA. And turning down other offers in order to return was a way for me to pay that debt. But I never signed any contract, I'm still yet to sign it."

PEOPLE - "I feel that people aren't displeased about my return to the national team, quite the contrary."

CHOICES - "Which group should be the focus, the "old" or the "new"? We have a group of players who won the World Cup two years ago, and we need to build on that strength. We mustn't casually discard anything, but nor should we be burdened by a debt of gratitude. Not everyone will continue. This group needs to be integrated: the right balance has to be found."

STYLE OF PLAY - "Traditional Italian football, or a more expansive game on the Spanish model which triumphed at Euro 2008? The Spanish play a very distinctive game, very technical. But they have achieved this great result after a long process of development, going though disappointments along the way. The Spain team is the ultimate expression of Spanish football. We will construct a style of play in which even the stars will follow the example of the Ronaldos or Rooneys of this world in working hard for the team as a whole. Italy aren't about catenaccio any more, but a modern, down to earth game mixed with a bit of open-mindedness (remember that in the World Cup semi-final we played with four strikers for part of the match). We will try to play an aggressive, expansive and resourceful game. A great side needs to be able to do everything, attack and defend."

TOTTI AND NESTA - "People's opinions must be respected, and in these players have given a great deal to the national team. I am not contemplating a return for either of them. I shan't be calling them up. If they call me, we'll discuss things together. They can perhaps advise others never to issue a definitive goodbye to the Azzurri."

WINNING - "I'm coming back to win, to enjoy the same sensations once more. The feelings of triumph but also of the unity and cohesion of the whole group. We mustn't assume that qualification for the next World Cup will be a formality. The we must focus on trying to replicate our success. My responsibility, as in the past, will be to coordinate the work of all the national sides, including the youth teams."

CLUBS - "I won't offer advice to club managers, even if I will be working with them. Thanks to my past experiences, I'm familiar with the needs of club sides."

EASY LIFE - "Have I settled into an easy life? I've put on a couple of kilos, that's all. I've greatly enjoyed this past two years. But I've also watched a lot of games, and worked on TV with Sky to keep myself up to date with international football."

CALCIOPOLI - "What do I think about Calciopoli, two years on? I can only speak for myself. I have to repeat that at that moment, seeing the name of my family involved in the situation without being able to explain our position was very difficult, but now things are different. There were a number of problems in football which have been eliminated. But football is still something Italy can be proud of, and a bad period won't change that."

FRIENDLIES - "We have some important tests already arranged. In fact, next February we will play Brazil in England."

CASSANO - "All Italian players between 18 and 40 are under consideration. That includes Cassano."

PERUZZI AND FERRARA - "I told the President that I wanted to work with the same people as in the past. There's also Peruzzi, who is studying for his coaching licence at Coverciano and will then join the FA's technical staff. Ferrara is working for Juve, then whenever the national team assembles, he will work for us."

ABETE - The President of FIGC also commented: "I would like to thank Donadoni and emphasise his personal and professional qualities. Lippi is the right man to undertake the journey towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. His choice was entirely based on technical aspects, not marketing. With Donadoni we had a mutually loyal relationship. On 20 May we agreed a contract extension with him, including a €900,000 gross compensation clause. Then on 22 May he told me that he didn't want the compensation clause, and returned to the original proposal of an automatic renewal if Italy reached the semi-finals of the European Championship. There were no other pre-established situations, we had no contracts with anyone else. If an extra penalty had been scored [against Spain, ed.]the automatic renewal would have operated, as it didn't happen I had to make a choice. But there was no sacking."

Everything Lippi has said is very impressive, even the way he dealt with Nesta and Totti retiring. I don't understand why people are so angry at them.. they have suffered through very serious injuries at an age where they cannot keep it up if it continues to happen. Both played for our national side for many years and now want to focus on their clubs. With them retiring it has given hope to younger players to get on the squad and people want to hate them for that?

It doesn't have to be just sitting back and playing nothing but defense. People just don't understand my friend.

I've never taken "Catenaccio" as an insult. It was a style of play that evolved because of certain circumstances, and whether or not people liked it, Italy is one of the few countries that can claim to have made a unique mark on football. What's the point of being another cheap imitation of Brazil or Holland? And then taking pride in that? Most of the people who use the term "Catenaccio" insultingly wouldn't know actual catenaccio if it came up and kicked them in the ass. It was also a system that laid the foundation that allowed us to develop the some of the greatest defenders to ever play the game. We've always had amazing attacking players as well, but what other country can claim Facchetti, Burgnich, Gentile, Scirea, Bergomi, Baresi, Ferrara, Ferri, and Maldini as their own? Very few, if any.

Anyone have any further insight into the "debt" he owed the Italian FA?

If I were Lippi, this would be the last job I would take. You are already a legend and you've won the big one: THE trophy. I'd go somewhere else and try my hand at it. Now anything less than a WC victory will bring his reputation down. With the amount of luck required to win a WC, the odds of him winning 2 in a row are infinitely small.

(Oh yeah, plus I wanted him to sign for a certain squad based in Liverpool).

even the way he dealt with Nesta and Totti retiring. I don't understand why people are so angry at them

I guess if he honestly believes he's going to win it again, that'd be the only explanation. He'd then be not only an Italian fold legend, but a historical figure as well. Have any other managers done that? I think only Brazil have won it back to back, but there was a war inbetween I think.