Soccer: Italy, Germany coaches resign

ROME - Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi and host side Germany's coach Juergen Klinsmann resigned from their positions yesterday.

Lippi resigned three days after guiding the Azzurri to their fourth World Cup title. He took over from Giovanni Trapattoni in July 2004 after Italy's disappointing exit in the group stages of Euro 2004.

"At the end of an extraordinary professional and human experience at the head of an exceptional group of players, and with the collaboration of a first-rate staff, I believe I have come to the end of my role as coach of the Italian national team," Lippi said in a statement on the FIGC's website.

"I have, therefore, communicated to the FIGC my wish to leave my post at the end of my contract (on July 31)."

In two years under Lippi's guidance, Italy lost only twice - a 2-0 defeat on his debut against Iceland and a 1-0 loss to Slovenia, both in 2004.

"I would like to thank the FIGC for the faith they showed in me in these two years of work, crowned with a result that will remain in the history of Italian football and in the hearts of all the fans," Lippi said.

He did not reveal his plans for the future.

Klinsmann 'burnt out'

German national soccer coach Juergen Klinsmann also decided not to extend his contract, which expired at the end of the World Cup.

Klinsmann has told the co-president of the German soccer federation, Theo Zwanziger, that he will not be staying on.

He will be replaced by his assistant Joachim Loew.

"This was not an easy decision," Klinsmann, fighting back tears, told a news conference in Frankfurt.

I feel burnt out," Klinsmann said.

"I would like to thank everybody for two exciting, two wonderful years," he added.

Klinsmann, who lives in California, has been urged from all sides to stay on after he led Germany to third place in the World Cup, but he had said he needed to consult with his family before making a decision.

All 23 German players, 93 per cent of the public, according to opinion polls, and even some of his harshest critics have all said they wanted him to continue.

Klinsmann has dismissed reports he received a lucrative offer to coach the United States and has said he has no interest in coaching another national team such as England or Italy.

- REUTERS