Lippi takes over from Trapattoni

Marcello Lippi, the former Juventus coach, became Italy's new national team coach yesterday, just days after the Italian team's first-round elimination from Euro 2004.

Lippi replaces Giovanni Trapattoni, widely criticised for Italy's poor performance at the Portugal tournament. The announcement was made at the end of a meeting of the Italian soccer federation, held in Rome.

Franco Carraro, the Federation president, told a news conference that Lippi's contract runs through 2006, when the next World Cup is held.

Lippi coached Juventus for eight years overall, with a stint at Internazionale in 2000. In his tenure, he led the Turin club to five league titles and a Champions' League title. However, Juventus had a disappointing year, and Lippi resigned at the end of the season.

Lippi expressed his happiness at the appointment. "The national team is in every coach's dreams, and therefore in my dreams, too," he said.

Italy's elimination at Euro 2004 came as a shock for a team seen as a top contender for title, which was hoping to avenge an early exit at the World Cup two years ago.

Angry fans and commentators alike demanded a clean-out, starting with Trapattoni, seen as the main culprit. Many also demanded the resignation of Carraro, who has faced criticism because he kept Trapattoni after the 2002 World Cup failure when South Korea eliminated them.

Carraro tendered his resignation at the meeting but was asked to stay on, the federation announced in a statement.