Donadoni to build on Lippi's legacy

Roberto Donadoni has vowed to build on Marcello Lippi's legacy after meeting the press for the first time as Italy coach. The 42-year-old was named as Lippi's successor on Thursday, just four days after the Azzurri's FIFA World Cup triumph.

'Very proud'
"I'm very proud to become coach of the Italian national team," he said. "I will give everything to my job. I already have a clear idea of how Italy will have to play in the future. I will try to continue along the path set by Marcello Lippi, giving continuity to his great work. However, I will also try to bring the team my own ideas about football. Coaching a team who have just won the World Cup is a great responsibility but I think it's better to start from the triumph in Berlin than following a series of disappointing results. I will try to build on the enthusiasm generated by the great joy of Berlin."

Livorno success
Donadoni has been passing his knowledge on to players since 2001 when he took charge of Serie C club Calcio Lecco 1912. He has also coached Genoa 1893 and AS Livorno Calcio, and it was during his second spell at the latter that he really served notice of his potential. He assumed the helm in January 2005 and led the Tuscany side to a respectable ninth-place finish in Serie A. Things got even better in 2005/06, with Livorno up to sixth, before Donadoni resigned in February following a disagreement with the club president. It would be his last job before Italy came calling.

Milan great
As a player, Donadoni served Italy with distinction on 63 occasions. He twice suffered penalty heartache at World Cups, missing in the semi-final shoot-out defeat by Argentina in 1990 and then watching as Brazil prevailed on spot-kicks in the final four years later. At club level, Donadoni made his Serie A debut with hometown team Atalanta BC before joining AC Milan in 1986. He was a key component of a side that won five Serie A titles (1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996) and three European Champion Clubs' Cups (1989, 1990, 1994) under illustrious coaches such as Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello.

Tough times
Donadoni arrives at the Azzurri post with Italy reeling from the footballing scandal that has taken the gloss off the country's World Cup celebrations. He was appointed the day before an Italian tribunal found Juventus, ACF Fiorentina, AC Milan and S.S. Lazio guilty of sporting fraud. Juve, Fiorentina and Lazio have been relegated as punishment and it is expected this will lead to the sale of many of their leading stars. Donadoni, though, is confident it will not disrupt his plans for UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying, which begins at home to Lithuania on 2 September. "I'm not worried if many top players leave Italy after the verdict in the match-fixing scandal," he said. "They will continue to play with great teams anyway. My objective is to work with the clubs and try to make as few mistakes as possible."

Irreplaceable
Donadoni's first task will be to convince Francesco Totti to play on for Italy. The AS Roma forward had said he would retire from international football after the World Cup, but might now be persuaded to continue after Italy's unexpected success in Germany. "I hope Francesco Totti will carry on with the national team," Donadoni said. "He is an irreplaceable player for any side."