World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi announced on Wednesday that he was leaving his job with the national team. In a statement released by the Italian Soccer Federation FIGC, the 58-year-old Lippi said:
"At the end of an extraordinary professional and human experience, having led an exceptional group of soccer players and with the help of top-notch personnel, I feel my role as the head of the Italian national team has been completed.
"I would like to thank the FIGC for the faith it has shown in me over the past two years, which were crowned by a result which will go down in the history of Italian soccer and in the hearts of all fans".
Lippi's contract as national coach officially expires on Saturday.
Rumours had already been circulating that Lippi would not be renewing it.
FIGC deputy chief Giancarlo Abete told reporters on Wednesday that Lippi had informed him early on in the World Cup championship that he would not be staying on. Abete said Lippi, who led Italy to victory against France in Sunday's World Cup final, had not signed up with any domestic or foreign clubs.
