Lippi service resumes as Roberto goes

MARCELLO LIPPI will be formally unveiled as the new Italy manager for the second time next week after replacing Roberto Donadoni yesterday.

Lippi returned to the job he vacated two years ago after the Italian Football Federation moved quickly to plug the hole left by Donadoni.

The former Juventus boss led the Azzurri to World Cup glory in 2006 but has now returned to lead the team in the defence of their title in South Africa in 2010 following the decision of the FIGC not to renew Donadoni's contract.

Donadoni left his position yesterday, four days after Italy crashed out of Euro 2008 at the quarter-final stage following a penalty shoot-out defeat to Spain.

Donadoni signed a contract extension which ran until the conclusion of the 2010 World Cup shortly before Euro 2008, but the deal was subject to Italy reaching at least the semi-final stage in Austria and Switzerland.

"I'm upset," Donadoni said. "But I would do it all again. I'm happy with what the players did. They gave their all. It has been a marvellous experience. The evaluation of my time in charge will be done on the two years, but you know that when you participate at a tournament like the Euros everything can be decided on incidents."