Fiorentina head coach Cesare Prandelli will be at the helm of the Italian national side once the World Cup ends. Prandelli's contract will be for four years although there are some details of his deal that still need to be worked out. Prandelli will replace Marcelo Lippi regardless of how the Azzuri performs in South Africa this summer.
The Italian football federation will officially present Prandelli as the new head coach after the World Cup.

Prandelli spent the last five seasons with Fiorentina. Twice he was named as the best Italian club coach in Italy (2006 and 2007) as well as a Serie A Coach of the Year award in 2008. He lead La Viola to a semifinal appearance in the UEFA Cup in the 07-08 season, losing to Rangers in a penalty shootout. Prandelli also qualified Fiorentina twice to the UEFA Champions League and made a historic appearance in the Round of 16 this past season where they were eliminated by Bayern Munich.

It seems the Italian federation is very confident with Prandelli as head coach becasue of his successful tenure at Fiorentina. Prandelli will go to work immediately after the World Cup as Italy has to prepare for the start of the qualifying rounds for the 2012 Eurocup. Italy is in Group C in the Eurocup qualifying stage and its first official match will be against Estonia on the road on September 3rd.