Former Italy coach Marcello Lippi has hit back at FIGC, following his unsuccessful attempt at getting a job with the national squad.
The 68-year-old coached the Azzurri to victory in the 2006 World Cup, and tried to emulate that success but failed four years later in South Africa, and has also led the likes of Napoli, Juventus and Inter during his coaching career, and was apparently close to helping new coach Giampiero Ventura by becoming technical director for the side.
“We were waiting to hire Ventura before announcing my assignment, I had already signed a pre-contract to become technical director,” Lippi told Rai.
The former Sampdoria defender also revealed he had a say in who took over from Antonio Conte on the Azzurri bench.
“For two months I worked with the federation, I talked to [Vincenzo] Montella and other eligible candidates but in the end we chose Ventura,” he said.
“Then, the day before the presentation of the new coach, the president and general director, with whom I had discussed our project, informed me that one and a half years ago there was a change that took into account the position of a public prosecutor, a job which my son David has.
“They then created a separate article to prevent employment if you have relatives within the federation.
“They are out of their minds.”
