Lippi on Inter's Mind
Posted: Friday November 13, 1998 03:09 PM
Club's owner would consider hiring Juventus coach
MILAN, Italy (AP) -- Struggling powerhouse Inter Milan may sign Marcello Lippi next season to add a successful coach to a star-studded roster.
Inter's president Massimo Moratti on Friday was quoted by Milan's sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport as saying that he was considering the possibility of Lippi succeeding Gigi Simoni at Inter for the 1999-2000 season.
"Lippi is one possibility," Moratti said.
Lippi, who is the coach of league champion Juventus of Turin, also is being sought by Lazio of Rome and other clubs with his contract with La Juve due to expire in June.
Moratti's remarks were another blow to Simoni, who repeatedly has been criticized by the club president and Italian media for Inter's lackluster play and mixed results this season.
Inter, whose roster boasts Ronaldo, Roberto Baggio, Ivan Zamorano, Youri Djorkaeff and Diego Simeone, is in seventh place in the league, seven points behind leader Fiorentina, after starting the season as a title favorite.
The team has been also struggling in the European Champions League and in the Italian Cup.
Lippi has been one of the most successful Italian coaches in recent years, having led Juventus to consecutive league titles and to three straight European Champions Cup finals.
