Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi accepts a letter of appointment from Guangzhou Evergrande boss Xu Jiayin during a news conference in Guangzhou on Thursday. Provided to China Daily

CSL-leading Evergrande fires Lee to bring in World Cup-winning coach

A World Cup winner has come to China.

Guangzhou Evergrande announced on Thursday that the club had signed a 2 1/2-year contract with Marcello Lippi, the former Italian national team head coach.

The move came even though the club leads the domestic competition, and advanced to the knockout round of the AFC Champions League three days ago.

The announcement came after persistent media rumors, which club boss Xu Jiayin had publicly rejected, consistently maintaining Lee Jang-soo would be retained.

"We made the decision to sign Lippi in accordance with the long-term strategic needs of the club," Xu said.

"It is not a sudden decision. We will not change a head coach only because of his performance in a single match, no matter if it is a win or a loss."

The defending Chinese Super League champion first contacted the Italian almost a year ago, and negotiations began this month.

"During the negotiations, Lippi expressed a strong willingness to work with us and he wanted to take over the team as soon as possible," Xu said.

Xu spoke highly of Lee Jang-soo's time with the club.

"The club and I thank Lee for his outstanding achievements the last two years," he said. "Without him, the club would not have developed to such a high level.

"It was hard for us to make the decision to let him go. But only by hiring a more high-profile coaching team can the club really develop into an international team."

Promoted to the top domestic league in March 2010, the South Korean led the Guangzhou side to a Chinese Super League title and a Chinese Super Cup title.

Lippi, 64, who led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, had not worked since leaving the post following the national side's ignominious performance in 2010, when it became the first defending champion to exit at the group stage.

Neither Xu nor Lippi would disclose his salary, but Lippi said the money was one of the big attractions for him.

"I have rejected invitations from other European clubs and those from Qatar," he said. "Coaching overseas, especially in such a distant Asian country, has become a new challenge for me after I quit the job as Italian national team head coach.

"The Guangzhou side's offering is up to that of European clubs. Why not try in China?"

The Milan-based Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Thursday the Guangzhou side had offered Lippi 10 million euros ($12.74 million) a season.

"I want to renew the contract in advance after the current one is concluded," he said. "I like the club very much and I have already watched its games quite a lot since the beginning of contact with the club almost a year ago."

Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi instructs Guangzhou Evergrande players during a training session on Th ursday, hours aft er he accepted a letter of appointment from Guangzhou boss Xu Jiayin.[Provided to China Daily]

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Lippi said he was first contacted last May.

"I dispatched an assistant to go and see the club's matches in the Chinese Super League and AFC Champions League, which made me even more determined," he said. "I am very enthusiastic about coaching in China."

In addition to the World Cup title, Lippi also came with excellent club credentials after winning the Champions League with Juventus, with which he also claimed several Series A championships.

"My first goal here is to win another domestic league championship for the club and also take it to a higher position in the AFC Champions League," Lippi said.

Lippi brought four assistants with him.

"We will also bring Italian soccer ideas to the team," he said. "We believe that different soccer cultures will help improve China's soccer development."

Lippi's first appearance will be in a domestic league match on Sunday at home against last-placed Qingdao Jonoon.

qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn