Italy turn back to Lippi as Donadoni ponders his future

Filed in archive International on June 27, 2008

After removing Roberto Donadoni from his post as coach of the national team the Italian Football Federation have said that they are going to announce the reinstatement of their 2006 world cup winning coach Marcello Lippi.

There was no way that Donadoni could keep his job after a really disappointing Euro 2008 performance. It is maybe slightly surprising that the Italians have looked backwards, but there is no doubt that Lippi is an astute coach and a safe pair of hands.

Donadoni appears to be a little shocked by his dismissal. "I'm sorry that a penalty kick has decided this situation," he has said.

Surely he can see that the abysmal draw against Romania the humiliation at the hands of Holland and the abject negativity of the display against Spain may have had something to do with it as well?

Donadoni went on to say, "Over these last two years, my Italy also did something positive, and one last game can't erase that."

It wasn't one game, it was one tournament. It was the tournament that the last two years have all been about.

As for the future, Donadoni has no idea where he may go. He has created a bit of a 'Steve McClaren' situation whereby clubs from his own country may be loathe to take him on.

"I don't have the foggiest idea what I will do in the future. I've got to digest this and then start anew."

There could be some cruel people who would suggest that Donadoni could have finished the above sentence after the word, 'idea'.