Lippi eyes 2014 World Cup coaching role
Reuters - Tuesday 15 November 2011, 13:54
Former Italy coach Marcello
Lippi wants to take charge of a team at the 2014 World Cup but
has ruled out returning to club management.
Lippi, who guided the Azzurri to their fourth World Cup
triumph in 2006, took the helm again for the 2010 finals in
South Africa but the defending champions went out at the group
stage without winning a game.
"In life in general, in any kind of work, there are highs
and lows, good moments and bad and I was lucky I had a lot of
success," Lippi told the Aspire4Sport conference in Doha.
"The last one hasn't been a success, South Africa. I took
one year off, a mental break. I want to start my work again, but
I don't want to go back to a club.
"I want another experience... in a national team to build a
team, a new national team and play another World Cup - Brazil
in 2014."
Cesare Prandelli succeeded Lippi as Italy coach and has
shrewdly guided them to Euro 2012.
Lippi won five Serie A titles and the Champions League with
Juventus in two stints in charge of the Turin club, but he is
wary of returning for a third time.
"I had chances to go back to Juventus in the last [few]
years... and it didn't happen," said the 63 year-old.
"Now Juventus have a great coach [Antonio Conte], they are
beginning a new cycle. I don't think they need me, but the
relationship is so nice that if they need me one day I'll be
available. I hope that doesn't happen, because that would mean
Juventus got bad."
Juve have not won a league title since they were demoted to
Serie B in 2006 as part of the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal,
but they are unbeaten this season under Lippi's former Juve
player Conte and lie two points behind Serie A leaders Udinese
with a game in hand.