Italy coach Marcello Lippi resigned Wednesday, three days after guiding the Azzurri to their fourth World Cup title.

 

Despite widespread calls for him to stay, Lippi suggested weeks ago that he would resign. He feels he and his son, Davide, were attacked personally in the corruption scandal that has tainted Italian soccer.

 

“At the end of an extraordinary professional and human experience, experienced as the head of an exceptional group of players ... I believe my role is over as the guide of the Italian national team,” Lippi said in a statement.

 

While he is not under investigation, Lippi was questioned by prosecutors before the World Cup about alleged pressure he received to select certain players for Italy's national team. Davide Lippi is under investigation for his work at player agency GEA World.

 

Italian soccer federation vice-president Giancarlo Abete said Lippi had told him during the round-of-16 stage that he intended to quit regardless of his team's performance.

 

In a statement, Abete praised Lippi for his "extraordinary professionalism and his ability leading the team."

 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060712.witaly0712/BNStory/Sports/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20060712.witaly0712

It's a very sad thing..........................WE HAVEN't OTHER COACHES AS GOOD AS LIPPI:(

THANK YOU MARCELLO!!!!!

You are great!

Don't you think too that Marcello Lippi looks like Gene Hackman? :P