World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi retires

 
Italian Marcello Lippi, coach of Guangzhou Evergrande watches his team play against Shandong Luneng in Jinan in east China's Shandong province Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014

BEIJING (AP) — World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi has retired from football management.

The 66-year-old Italian announced his decision Sunday, after winning a third successive Chinese league title with Guangzhou Evergrande.

Lippi, who also won the 2013 Asian Champions League, says "I don't want to coach anymore, I'm too old. Guangzhou Evergrande will have a new coach next season."

Lippi adds that he will take over as technical director. Fabio Cannavaro is among the favorites to replace him as coach of the Chinese team.

Lippi steered Italy to World Cup success in 2006 but could not emulate that feat in his second spell in charge as the Azzurri was eliminated in the group stage four years later.

He also won the Champions League and five Serie A titles in two spells with Juventus.