TEMPO.CO, Beijing - Italy's World Cup winning-captain Fabio Cannavaro will replace his former national team coach Marcello Lippi in charge of Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande for next season, the club announced on Wednesday.
Lippi, 66, said he would be moving into a technical director's role for the remaining three-year contract he signed in February, after successfully leading the club to a fourth consecutive Chinese Super League title last weekend.
The club introduced their new coach during a news conference in Guangzhou and Cannavaro posted on his Twitter feed saying, "Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande officially unveiled Fabio Cannavaro as their new coach."
Lippi will remain the title of “head coach” while Cannavaro will be “executive head coach” and responsible for the day-to-day running of the team, the club said.
Cannavaro, 41, played 136 matches for Italy and raised the World Cup in Germany in 2006 with Lippi as his coach.
The former Napoli, Parma, Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid central defender ended his playing career at Emirati club Al Ahli and became a technical consultant after his retirement.
Lippi has taken the club to win three Chinese Super League titles, the Chinese FA Cup and the 2013 AFC Champions League since he took over at the club two years ago.
ANTARA
