Marcello Lippi confirms he’ll leave his job as China national Coach on January 31, but he’ll consider “a closer national team” for his next job.
The 70-year-old is one of the most legendary tacticians of his generation, having won five Scudetti, the Champions League, the Asian Champions League and the 2006 World Cup.
In 2016 he took the China job, having previously enjoyed success and Guangzhou Evergrande, but it appears he’s ready to return to Europe.
Marcello Lippi confirms he’ll leave his job as China national Coach on January 31, but he’ll consider “a closer national team” for his next job.
The 70-year-old is one of the most legendary tacticians of his generation, having won five Scudetti, the Champions League, the Asian Champions League and the 2006 World Cup.
In 2016 he took the China job, having previously enjoyed success and Guangzhou Evergrande, but it appears he’s ready to return to Europe.
“I’ve done six years, it’s a wonderful experience which will end on January 31 after the Asian Cup,” Lippi told Corriere dello Sport.
“I’m flying out tomorrow. The Federation offered me another four-and-a-half years to close in Qatar, but I didn’t feel like accepting it.
“I need to go home and stay there a while, I need to recharge my batteries – get bored even – so that I’ll be champing at the bit to start again with more desire and motivation.
“Two or three years of work and travel, one out, then start again: I’ve found that’s the right formula.
“I’ve stopped with clubs forever, but a closer national team, in Europe or the Emirates, I could consider…
“The balance is positive, China has become one of the continent's strongest national teams, we missed out on the World Cup by just one point.
“I think I’ve done good things, even on a structural level because I’ve pushed clubs to invest in the youth sectors and now everyone has under-15, under-16 and under-17 teams.”
Lippi was also asked about the tricks of his trade.
“Every time they invite me to speak at these courses or in meetings between Coaches, I always say the same thing: the winning Coach is the one who manages to get into the players' heads, especially if they’re champions.
“You can teach them to deal with the diagonals better, double-up in marking, possession of the ball, but if you can’t find harmony in the group and you’re not credible then you won’t win.
“Football is psychology, adapting to various situations.”