Zoff takes over as Lazio coach

　　Former Italian coach Dino Zoff has been appointed c oach of Lazio following the resignation of Sven Goran E riksson. Zoff had been working as club vice-president s ince he resigned as coach of Italy following the finals of Euro 2000.

　　Monday had seen Zoff put himself in the frame to su cceed Eriksson. 'I am prepared to help the team as far as I possibly can without making conditions for the fut ure,' he said. 'Cragnotti was very clear up until last week——Eriksson will remain Lazio's coach until the end of June.'

　　After Eriksson's resignation, Zoff was the obvious choice to take over.

　　The fifty-eight-year-old coached Lazio between 1990 and 1994 before becoming club president and he returned to the bench as caretaker ("代") manager midway through the 1996-97 season before Eriksson was appointed coach.

　　He led Italy to the final of Euro 2000 in July 2000 and was praised for his tactical nous (常识机智) in getting a fairly limited side to the brink of success.

　　Zoff is remembered as one of the greats of Italian 'calcio', having played a record 112 times for his coun try as a goalkeeper. He captained Italy when they won t he World Cup in 1982 at the grand old age of 42.

　　He started his career at Udinese before joining Juv entus for a glittering eleven year spell where he won s ix 'scudettos' (championships), one Copa Italia and the UEFA Cup. He played for his country in three World Cups .

　　His first spell at Lazio saw him fail to win the sc udetto and he chose to move upstairs in 1994.

　　He succeeded Cesare Maldini as Italian coach after the 1998 World Cup and won through to Euro 2000, where his side, superb in defence, lost out to a late Sylvain Wiltord equaliser and a golden goal from David Trezegue t. He suprisingly resigned after the tournament, some b elieved as a reaction to criticism from politician and Milan president Silvio Berlusconi.

　　by John Brewin