Fabio Cannavaro takes over from Lippi at Guangzhou Evergrande
Chinese champions announce that Italy's World Cup winning captain will take over the day-to-day running of the team
Italy's World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was formally unveiled as the new coach of Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande yesterday, replacing his former national team manager Marcello Lippi.
Lippi announced he was stepping aside after Guangzhou won their fourth consecutive title on Sunday, sparking rumours that Cannavaro would succeed him.
At a press conference at the Guangdong club, Lippi said he would retain the title of "head coach". But 41-year-old Cannavaro would take over responsibility for the team's day-to-day affairs as the club's new "executive head coach".
I'm still the chief director and the head coach of the team. I'm just not going to be on the pitch every day
"There might be some misunderstanding about what I said before, that I would give up and ditch the team," Lippi said. "No, I'm still the chief director and the head coach of the team. I'm just not going to be on the pitch every day."
Lippi said he would "check every few days" on the team's development and would watch the matches from the stands. The 66-year-old also said he suggested to the club the appointment of an executive head coach so that he could spend more time with his family in Italy.
"I couldn't do anything when my family had issues, I couldn't stand that I had to visit home [only] every six months," Lippi said.
"So I suggested the team should find an executive head coach, which would allow me to visit home every two months."