Marcello Lippi

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Born on 12 April 1948 in Viareggio, in northern Tuscany, Lippi began his professional career as a defender in 1969, in the role of sweeper. He spent most of his playing years with Sampdoria, where he played consecutively from 1970 to 1978, except for a year on loan at Savona. In 1979, he joined Pistoiese, being part of the Arancioni's promotion to Serie A. He finished his playing career with Lucchese. Lippi retired from active football in 1982, at the age of 34, to pursue a coaching career. Despite never having played for Italy at senior level, Lippi gained experience playing in his country's top flight as a central defender for Sampdoria. His rise to the top of the managerial tree also began at the Genoese club, where he started as a youth-team coach. After various stints in Italy's lower divisions, he became a head coach in Serie A in 1989 with Cesena. Lippi then moved on to Lucchese and Atalanta. The turning point for Lippi came in the 1993–94 season when he led Napoli to a place in the UEFA Cup. With his success at Napoli, Lippi became a managerial target for the top Serie A clubs, with Juventus ultimately winning the race to secure his services. He won the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia in his first season at the club, also reaching the 1995 UEFA Cup final, with a team that included players who would play an important role in the club's future successes. The following season, Lippi guided Juventus to 1995 Supercoppa Italiana and the 1995–96 UEFA Champions League titles. With the arrival of several new key players, these victories were followed by consecutive league titles, the 1996 UEFA Super Cup, the 1996 Intercontinental Cup and the 1997 Supercoppa Italiana, as well as two more consecutive Champions League finals and another semi-final. After five highly suc

In Their Own Story

In the 2003 UEFA Champions League final at Old Trafford, Juventus faced AC Milan. Both teams failed to score during regulation or extra time. The match went to a penalty shootout, which Juventus lost to Milan. This was Lippi's second Champions League final appearance with the club; the first was in 1995 when they lost in the UEFA Cup final.

Reader's Guide

Marcello Lippi is a legendary Italian manager known for his tactical flexibility and success at both club and international level. His career highlights include winning the 2006 FIFA World Cup with Italy, the UEFA Champions League and Intercontinental Cup with Juventus in 1996, and the AFC Champions League with Guangzhou Evergrande in 2013. He is the only coach to have won both the UEFA Champions League and the AFC Champions League. Lippi's first season at Juventus (1994–95) saw him win the Serie A title and Coppa Italia, and reach the 1995 UEFA Cup final. He won one Intercontinental Cup with Juventus in 1996.

Did You Know?

• Lippi is the first and to date the only coach to win both the UEFA Champions League and the AFC Champions League.
• He won the Serie A title and Coppa Italia in his first season at Juventus (1994–95), also reaching the 1995 UEFA Cup final.
• Lippi won only one Intercontinental Cup with Juventus, in 1996.
• He led Italy to victory in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, using 21 different players and a 4–2–3–1 formation.