Lippi takes over Guangzhou Evergrande

Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi has taken over Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande, the club announced on Thursday. Lippi has not worked since his second stint at the Azzurri helm ended with a humiliating group-stage exit at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The 64-year-old has also coached Napoli, Inter Milan and Juventus, who he led to five Serie A titles and a Champions League crown in two stints in charge between 1994 and 2004. The big-spending Chinese Super League club said he will be in charge of them until November 2014. "I want to bring the Italian style of play to China," Lippi told a press conference, adding that he hoped to stay beyond the end of his contract. "The most important thing is to introduce Italian soccer's concepts in China. Everyone's passion will be needed, but I'm confident. "I promise to work with the utmost passion and all my professionalism". Lippi takes the place of South Korean coach Lee Jang-Soo, who led Guangzhou to promotion in 2010 and to their first Chinese Super League title last year. Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong province in southern China.