Milan - Roberto Donadoni's days at the helm of the Italian national squad may be announced early next week, paving the way for the return of world champion coach Marcello Lippi.
La Repubblica daily reported Wednesday that the firing may be announced Monday in a meeting between Donadoni and Giancarlo Abete, the president of the football federation (FIGC).
The speculation is based on Abete's expected return from a meeting of the European ruling body UEFA set for Friday and on his possible presence Sunday at the Euro
2008 final in Vienna.
Most Italian media gave Donadoni's departure as certain, just minutes after the team was eliminated from Euro 2008 in a quarter- final against Spain on Sunday.
A few voices defended his refusal to resign as the world champions' defeat came in a penalty shoot-out.
It now appears that, if fired, Donadoni, 44, won't receive the severance fee of 550,000 euros that had been rumoured when he renewed his contract to 2010, days before the Euro 2008 campaign started.
Gazzetta. it Wednesday quoted Donadoni as saying he "said no to the proposal (of a severance fee) made (by Abete) on the day of the renewal. Economic matters don't interest me. If he says I'm not the coach anymore, I'll leave without asking for anything."
No other candidate has been rumoured beside Lippi, who resigned in July 2006, a few days after winning Italy's fourth World Cup in a penalty shoot-out final against France.
The coach is said to have resigned as a wide corruption scandal that in 2006 shook Italian football also involved his son Davide, a footballers' agent.
Lippi, 60, remained unemployed for the past two years, claiming to have turned down offers from major international clubs.
The new coach's next goal is qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. (dpa)
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