World Cup-winning coach Marcelo Lippi has announced his retirement after guiding Guangzhou Evergrande to the Chinese Super League title.
The 66-year-old, who guided his country, Italy, to World Cup glory in Germany in 2006, has called time on a glittering coaching career and is expected to stay as technical director with the Chinese club.
“I do not want to train, I am old,” he was quoted as saying in Gazzetta dello Sport. “I will be 67 years old in the near future, and I do not want to be the head coach anymore.”
“Guangzhou Evergrande will have a new coach next season. I will follow the staff in the role of technical director.”
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Fabio Cannavaro, who captained Italy to success at the Germany World Cup, will succeed his former manager. Cannavaro, 41, currently on the coaching staff at Al-Ahli in the UAE, will be unveiled as Guangzhou’s new coach next week, according to Chinese media reports.
Lippi began his coaching career with Sampdoria (youth team), a side with whom he spent a decade playing consecutively as a defender, except for a year loan at Savona. His big break came at Napoli befoe earning a move to Juventus, a side he tutored to three consecutive Champions League finals- winning in 1996- as well as clinching three Italian titles.
After a disappointing stint at Inter Milan, Lippi returned to Turin and won two further Scudetti and another European Cup final appearance in 2003.
He was announced Azzurri boss following Euro 2004 and led the team to their fourth World Cup title before stepping down and returned to the post in 2008 to take charge for the unsuccessful 2010 World Cup campaign.
He moved to China in 2012 to take charge of the defending champions and added a three more consecutive titles while also guiding Guangzhou to the AFC Champions League in 2013.
