By James Pearson Last updated: 26th June 2008
Lippi: Back at the helm
Marcello Lippi is back in charge of Italy after replacing his successor Roberto Donadoni on Thursday.
Donadoni was sacked on Thursday after the Azzurri only reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 following a penalty shoot-out loss to Spain.
Lippi, who has been out of work since guiding Italy to World Cup glory in Germany two years ago, will be unveiled at a press conference in Rome on 1st July.
"I'm very, very happy and I'm very motivated," said Lippi after the announcement.
The 60-year-old possesses one of the most impressive CVs in the game having managed Serie A giants Juventus twice, along with spells at the likes of Napoli and Internazionale.
"Marcello Lippi will return as coach of Italy," read a statement by Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giancarlo Abete published on their website.
"He will replace Roberto Donadoni."

Latest Sky Sports News Report
Tottenham v Sunderland - 2nd Half
Blackburn v Portsmouth - 1st Half
Man City v Burnley - 1st Half
Blackburn v Portsmouth - 2nd Half
Aston Villa v Bolton - 2nd Half
Tottenham v Sunderland - 1st Half
Aston Villa v Bolton - 1st Half
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| 14:00 | Bari vs Livorno |
| 14:00 | Bologna vs Palermo |
| 14:00 | Cagliari vs Sampdoria |
| 14:00 | Genoa vs Siena |
| 14:00 | Lazio vs AC Milan |
| 14:00 | Parma vs Chievo |
| 14:00 | Udinese vs Fiorentina |
| 19:45 | Inter Milan vs Roma |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| 17:00 | Bologna vs Inter Milan |
| 19:45 | Fiorentina vs Parma |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| 14:00 | AC Milan vs Cagliari |
| 14:00 | Livorno vs Genoa |
| 14:00 | Napoli vs Lazio |
| 14:00 | Palermo vs Catania |
| 14:00 | Roma vs Bari |
| 14:00 | Sampdoria vs Chievo |
| 14:00 | Siena vs Atalanta |
| 19:45 | Juventus vs Udinese |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| 17:00 | Udinese vs Livorno |
| 19:45 | Genoa vs Sampdoria |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| Atalanta 2 - 5 Juventus | |
| Catania 0 - 0 Napoli | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| Palermo 0 - 0 Genoa | |
| Siena 1 - 1 Lazio | |
| Sampdoria 0 - 0 Bari | |
| Roma 2 - 1 Bologna | |
| Livorno 0 - 2 Inter Milan | |
| Fiorentina 3 - 1 Catania | |
| Chievo 1 - 1 Udinese | |
| Cagliari 3 - 0 Atalanta | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| AC Milan 2 - 0 Parma | |
| Juventus 2 - 3 Napoli | |
| Thursday 29th October | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| Inter Milan 5 - 3 Palermo | |
| Wednesday 28th October | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| Udinese 2 - 1 Roma | |
| Parma 2 - 0 Bari | |
| Napoli 2 - 2 AC Milan | |
| Livorno 1 - 0 Atalanta | |
| Lazio 0 - 1 Cagliari | |
| Juventus 5 - 1 Sampdoria | |
| Genoa 2 - 1 Fiorentina | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inter Milan | 11 | 28 |
| 2 | Juventus | 12 | 24 |
| 3 | Sampdoria | 11 | 21 |
| 4 | AC Milan | 11 | 19 |
| 5 | Fiorentina | 11 | 18 |
| 6 | Napoli | 12 | 18 |
| 7 | Genoa | 11 | 17 |
| 8 | Parma | 11 | 17 |
| 9 | Cagliari | 11 | 16 |
| 10 | Palermo | 11 | 16 |
| 11 | Bari | 11 | 15 |
| 12 | Chievo | 11 | 15 |
| 13 | Udinese | 11 | 15 |
| 14 | Roma | 11 | 14 |
| 15 | Lazio | 11 | 11 |
| 16 | Bologna | 11 | 9 |
| 17 | Livorno | 11 | 9 |
| 18 | Atalanta | 12 | 9 |
| 19 | Catania | 12 | 8 |
| 20 | Siena | 11 | 6 |
Sunderland fan Lucinda Gittins was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Barca were stunned by a late leveller, Gers' match was abandoned while Inter march on in Serie A.
Gorgeous QPR fan Katie Moran was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Juventus smashed five past Atalanta to strengthen their hold on second place, while Catania held Napoli.
David Beckham does not believe the announcement of his loan return to AC Milan will have angered his LA Galaxy team-mates.
Chelsea and Juventus have been linked with a move for Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik.
New Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc has backed coach Ciro Ferrara.
Liverpool's Champions League hopes have been handed a boost with the news that Fiorentina's Adrian Mutu faces a spell out.