Next month marks nearly a year since the Azzurri debacle of the World Cup in South Africa and the subsequent dismissal of Marcelo Lippi. Yet despite his failings with the Azzurri, the Italian’s continued exile dumbfounds many.
After all, Lippi’s achievements as a manager arguably put him in a class above even the likes of similarly heralded coaches like Guus Hiddink. World Cup winner, Champions League winner and Italian league winner – wherever he’s been he has won it all.
Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque achieved similar feats following their recent World Cup win, but could he have achieved it with the relatively unheralded squad that Lippi took to glory in 2006?
The former Italy boss recently admitted that whilst he has “received many offers” in truth “nothing concrete has evolved.” Lippi seems clear on one thing: he’s looking away from Italy.
There should be little surprise in this; given the national backlash the 63 year old suffered after the World Cup last summer with La Stampa’s dubbing it “The blackest page of our footballing history."
Just four years after delivering a World Cup, Lippi was the villain. All despite leading the Azzurri through a comfortable qualification, before they froze in South Africa.
Yes, the results at the tournament were poor, but back in 2002 Giovanni Trappatoni endured a dismal showing at the World Cup with defeat to South Korea. Trappatoni, however, got off lightly with fans and pundits alike, pointing to a series of contentious decisions, rather than their dated tactics.
Little else can explain Lippi stating there is “a 98 per cent chance I will coach abroad.” With rumours continuing to circulate daily, the 63 year old recently highlighted “proposals coming from the Premier League and La Liga."
In January, QPR owner Flavio Briatore admitted his interest in Lippi, despite current boss Neil Warnock being on course for promotion. Roman Abramovich is thought to be similarly impressed by the Italian’s record – particularly in the transfer wheeling and dealing witnessed at Juve during the Nineties glory years.
"I would love to coach in the Premier League, English football fascinates me," Lippi explained in another radio interview. "Me to Chelsea? It would be beautiful, but also to coach a national team would not be bad."
Whilst any move to Chelsea will rest on the fate of Carlo Ancelotti, the suggestion of taking over a national side could prove fruitful.
Lippi was the favourite for the Ukraine national job until their Football Association chose to re-appoint boss Oleg Blokhin, in a move which may have been motivated by the nationalistic backlash witnessed in England with Fabio Capello.
Whether another national side seeks out the Italian before Euro 2012 remains to be seen, but it could prove tempting to a manager who has won almost everything else.
And then there’s Juventus. Seventh and four points off the Champions League spaces, when quizzed on his beloved Bianconeri, Lippi dismissed talk of a return. Yet he was quick to add, more tellingly, “if they needed help in any way, I would.”
Never say never.