Former Italy under-21 coach Claudio Gentile is suing the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) for unfair dismissal.
Gentile was replaced by Pierluigi Casiraghi in July 2006 after his team failed to make it past the first round of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
In his suit, Gentile claims that he received assurances from then-FIGC extraordinary commissioner Guido Rossi that he would keep his job now matter how Italy performed in the European championship.
Gentile says this gentleman's agreement induced him to turn down job offers from ''several'' Italian and foreign clubs.
Gentile, 55, a Juventus legend and defensive hero in Italy's 1982 World Cup win, led the Under-21 team to the European title in 2004.
Italy have progressed under Casiraghi, 39, a former Chelsea and Italy striker who worked alongside fellow coach Gianfranco Zola, another Azzurri great.
Casiraghi recently lost his co-manager to West Ham but the so-called 'Azzurrini' are now setting their sights on a record sixth title after advancing to the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship on the back of a 3-1 victory against Israel in Tel Aviv.
