slieman614
05-31-2005, 08:12 PM
Giovanni Trapattoni wants a return to Italian football after he today resigned as boss of Benfica.
Trap had hinted that he would quit the Portuguese giants and he has confirmed his departure.
"I’m leaving Benfica to return home," he stated on Tuesday. "I thank everyone, including the President and the club officials. It has been an incredible year."
The veteran tactician only joined the European giants last summer after he failed to win a new contract with the Italian national team.
Yet it has been a successful stay for the 66-year-old after leading the side to their first title for 11 years.
He almost ensured the double too but his outfit lost 2-1 to Vitoria Setubal in last Saturday’s Portuguese Cup Final.
Trap has been linked with a number of Italian clubs recently, with Lazio and now Roma allegedly keen on his services.
But the former Juventus, Inter and Bayer Munich title winner insists that he hasn’t been assured a new job.
"I want to continue my career in Italy," he added. "However, I still don’t have a new team for next season."
Benfica could decide to replace Trap with former Ajax boss Ronald Koeman or Paul Le Guen, who left French champions Lyon this month.
Trap had hinted that he would quit the Portuguese giants and he has confirmed his departure.
"I’m leaving Benfica to return home," he stated on Tuesday. "I thank everyone, including the President and the club officials. It has been an incredible year."
The veteran tactician only joined the European giants last summer after he failed to win a new contract with the Italian national team.
Yet it has been a successful stay for the 66-year-old after leading the side to their first title for 11 years.
He almost ensured the double too but his outfit lost 2-1 to Vitoria Setubal in last Saturday’s Portuguese Cup Final.
Trap has been linked with a number of Italian clubs recently, with Lazio and now Roma allegedly keen on his services.
But the former Juventus, Inter and Bayer Munich title winner insists that he hasn’t been assured a new job.
"I want to continue my career in Italy," he added. "However, I still don’t have a new team for next season."
Benfica could decide to replace Trap with former Ajax boss Ronald Koeman or Paul Le Guen, who left French champions Lyon this month.