World Cup winners Italy have appointed Roberto Donadoni as their new coach to succeed Marcello Lippi.
Lippi resigned on Wednesday, three days after leading Italy to their fourth World Cup success.

Donadoni, 42, steered Livorno to sixth place in Serie A last season before resigning in February.

The former AC Milan midfielder, who won 63 caps for Italy, has also been in charge at Lecce and Genoa since beginning his coaching career in 2001.

His first game in charge of his country will be a Euro 2008 qualifier at home to Lithuania on 2 September before a rematch with World Cup final opponents France in Paris four days later.

Italy are in Group B which also includes Ukraine, Scotland, Georgia and Faroe Islands.

Donadoni was part of the Italian team that finished third in the 1990 World Cup and was in the side that lost the 1994 final to Brazil on a penalty shoot-out.

A speedy winger, he played for Atalanta before his illustrious spell with Milan, and wound down his playing career in America with the New York Metrostars.

His first coaching position was with third division Lecce in 2001 and he moved on to Livorno before an ill-fated three-game stint in charge of Genoa.

Donadoni returned to Livorno for a second spell during the 2004/05 season but left in February after a disagreement with club president Aldo Spinelli.