Italy coach Marcello Lippi has resigned three days after leading his country to a fourth World Cup title. "At the end of an extraordinary professional and human experience at the head of an exceptional group of players, and with the collaboration of a first-rate staff, I believe I have come to the end of my role as coach of the Italian national team," Lippi said in a statement on the Italian Football Federation (FIGC)'s official website. "I have therefore announced to the FIGC my wish to leave the post as national coach when my contract expires on July 31st." Despite widespread calls for the 58-year-old to stay on as head coach, Lippi has said he feels he and his son were attacked personally in the match-fixing and corruption scandal that is underway in the domestic league. Lippi's decision to leave his post with the Azzurri came after being questioned by prosecutors about the alleged pressure he received to name certain players as a part of the national squad. While the former Juventus manager is not under investigation, his son, Davide is in a hot seat due to his position at a player agency linked to the scandal.
The Italian coach leaves the Italian team after leading the to victory cumulating in a penalty shoot-out success over France in Berlin on Sunday. "I would like to thank the FIGC for the faith they showed in me in these two years of work, crowned with a result that will remain in the history of Italian football and in the hearts of all the fans," Lippi said. Italian Federation vice president Giancarlo Abete said Lippi had told him during the group stage of the World Cup that he intended to quit regardless of the team's performance. In a statement, Abete praised Lippi for his "extraordinary professionalism and his ability leading the team." It may come as a surprise to few since Lippi had turned down a new contract before the World Cup began and was not present at a meeting with the Italian Federation on Tuesday.
