Prandelli to succeed Lippi
Sunday, May 30, 2010
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Cesare Prandelli has left ACF Fiorentina and signed a four-year contract with the Italian Football Federation to replace Marcello Lippi as Azzurri coach after the FIFA World Cup.
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Cesare Prandelli will be in charge of Italy's UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying campaign after standing down as ACF Fiorentina coach in order to replace Marcello Lippi after the FIFA World Cup.
Lippi, who guided Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, will be in charge for the Azzurri's campaign in South Africa before Prandelli assumes control. "I had already decided to leave, the football association was looking for a new coach," said Lippi. "They found him and I think they chose the right person."
Prandelli, 52, joined the Viola in 2005 following spells with Atalanta BC, US Lecce, AC Chievo Verona, AC Venezia, Parma FC and AS Roma. He guided the team into this season's UEFA Champions League, where they pushed eventual runners-up FC Bayern München all the way in the round of 16, before finishing 11th in Serie A.
Italy have been drawn in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group C alongside Serbia, Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Estonia and the Faroe Islands. They begin their campaign away to Estonia on 3 September.