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(Sports Focus) Lippi resigns as Guangzhou Evergrande coach, eyes national team job (updated 2)

Xinhua, February 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Marcello Lippi on Thursday resigned as the coach and the technical director of Chinese Super League (CSL) champions Guangzhou Evergrande, citing health and family considerations.

The World Cup-winning coach Lippi led Evergrande to three straight CSL titles, one Chinese Football Association (CFA) Cup crown and the AFC Champions League champion in 2013.

The club accepted his resignation on Thursday afternoon.

"Due to health and family reasons, Lippi recently applied for an early end to his contract. Through deliberation, the board of directors accepted his resignation," the club said in an official statement.

"Both sides agree that Lippi will no longer be the head coach of Evergrande from March 1, 2015," the statement added.

Lippi revealed that he might continue his coaching career with a national team.

"Guangzhou will be my last stop as club team coach. I am going back home for a break," the 66-year-old Italian.

"But I am still enjoying the job, if I have chance to coach a national team, I will consider spending one or two years to do it."

Sources close to Lippi told Xinhua that he was waiting for opportunities to take charge of a team which could qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

Lippi steered Italy to World Cup triumph in 2006 but could not repeat that feat in his second spell in charge as the Azzurri was eliminated in the group stage four years later. He also won the Champions League and five Serie A titles in two spells with Juventus.

The Evergrande club heaped praise on the 66-year-old Lippi, hailing him as "a great tactician, a gentleman and a huge contributor to Chinese soccer."

"World famous coach Lippi took the helm of Evergrande on May 17, 2012. Since then, he has got along very well with the club, working hard to build a strong and high-spirited squad for Guangzhou as well as for China," said the statement.

"Lippi opened a new era for Guangzhou and Chinese soccer. Under his guidance, Evergrande claimed the Chinese top-flight league in 2012, 2013 and 2014, won the CFA Cup in 2012, and made the history by taking the AFC Champions Legue title for the first time in 2013.

"As a world top class coach and a great tactician, Lippi has not only brought victories and champion's trophies to Guangzhou, but also made great contributions to the development of the Chinese soccer.

"A gentleman with a great personality, Lippi is also a football messenger and a beloved friend to hundreds of millions of Chinese fans."

Liu Yongzhuo, vice president of the Evergrande Group, said that the club has suggested the Guangzhou municipal government that Lippi be given honorary citizenship.

Italian Fabio Cannavaro, 41, former world player of the year and a World Cup winner, will take the rein of Evergrande.

"Fabio and other coaching staff will stay. I believe they can do better to win more titles for the team," Lippi said. Endi