Donadoni to find out fate ‘in next few days’

ITALY coach Roberto Donadoni will find out his fate “in the next few days”, the Italian football federation confirmed yesterday.

Donadoni is under fire following the Azzurri’s quarter-final exit from Euro 2008 on penalties to Spain.

His predecessor Marcello Lippi, who quit after leading Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, has been linked with a return to the Italy helm.

Reports in the country suggest Donadoni could face the axe as early as today or tomorrow, and the FIGC have confirmed president Giancarlo Abete is set for showdown talks with the 44-year-old.

“At this point in time there’s no news on the future of Donadoni,” an FIGC spokesman said.

“In the next few days Mr Abete will meet Donadoni and the pair will sit down and talk about his future as Italy coach.

“I don’t know when it’s going to be because nothing’s been organised yet. But it’ll be in the next few days.

“I can’t tell you when it’s going to be or even the formalities of it. All I can say is that it will happen soon.”

Donadoni renewed his contract before Euro 2008 and revealed before travelling to Austria that it did not contain a compensation clause should he face the sack after the tournament.

Reports in the media have suggested there is a clause that stipulates he can be fired within 10 days of Italy’s Euro 2008 exit if either party is not happy with how the tournament went — something the FIGC refused to confirm or deny.

“These are just things the media is talking about,” said the spokesman. “Donadoni has a contract and Mr Abete will talk to him about this in the next few days.”

Italy lost 4-2 on penalties against Spain on Sunday, meaning the world champions bowed out of the tournament with just one win from four games.

Donadoni’s appointment after the 2006 World Cup came as a surprise to many, with the former AC Milan star having only managed Livorno in Italy’s top flight.