CHINESE Super League champion Guangzhou Evergrande officially announced Thursday former Italy World Cup-winning boss Marcello Lippi as the club’s new coach.

    The 60-year-old Italian, who hasn’t coached since the Azzurri’s failed 2010 World Cup campaign, was unveiled at a club press conference in Guangzhou on Thursday afternoon following Lee Jang-soo’s sacking Tuesday evening.

    Lippi, who has been linked with Guangzhou for the past few months, admitted there had been contact between the two parties since February.

    “We first contacted each other four months ago. The president Xu Jiayin and vice president Liu Yongzhuo showed a huge desire to cooperate,” Lippi said at the press conference.

    “I have seen several games of the club in the Chinese Super League and AFC Champions League. I have remembered their numbers and performances, and soon I will know their names for sure. I also persuaded many of my coaching staff to come to China with me.”

    Lippi has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the big-spending Guangzhou and will be joined by assistant Narciso Pezzotti and a handful of other Italian coaches.

    “I appreciate the support of Guangzhou Evergrande and I have seen many fans wearing our red shirt in Guangzhou city,” he added.

    Lippi also paid tribute to the axed Lee, who guided the club to the 2011 Chinese title and top spot in Group H in the AFC Champions League.

    “I have to say thank you to the former coach Lee Jang-soo. With his hard work the club improved a lot in the past two years,” Lippi said.

    “With the groundwork he has left, we can be more successful with my passion and professional abilities. I want to bring the modern Italian soccer style to China.”

    Lippi will be joined by new Paraguay international signing Lucas Barrios in Guangzhou when the former Borussia Dortmund striker officially links up with the club June 1.

    Lippi’s coaching career has taken an upward trajectory after a difficult start. The Tuscan was fired three times and coached nine clubs in his first 10 seasons in management.

    His big break came with the Juventus job, where he would be coach for the best part of a decade, barring a disastrous spell in charge of Inter Milan in the 1999-2000 season.

    (SD-Agencies)