Evergrande head coach steps down

Former Guangzhou Evergrande head coach Marcello Lippi arrives at the airport in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province, Nov 3, 2014. Lippi stepped down right after leading his team to fourth consecutive Chinese Super League football title on Sunday. [Photo/CFP]

Guangzhou Evergrande head coach Marcello Lippi stepped down right after leading his team to fourth consecutive Chinese Super League football title on Sunday.

After managing the team for 2 years, the Italian announced his decision at a post-match news briefing. To his supporters' relief, Lippi said he will continue to work for the club as its technical director.

Evergrande, the visiting team, kept Shandong Luneng to 1-1 draw. The tie gave the team the extra point it needed to stay at the top of the standings.

Luneng's Liu Binbin scored an early goal in the 12th minute, giving the Shandong team the lead. Evergande's Elkeson de Oliveira Cardoso evened the score after receiving a pass from Zheng Zhi.

The 1-1 result lasted till the end of the match despite both sides having chances to score.

Lippi, the first World Cup-winning coach to lead a Chinese club, lived up to the expectations in 2013 when his team won the Asian Champions League final.

In 2006, Lippi achieved his career high while coaching the Italian national team. His team won the 2006 World Cup. Together with Fabio Cannavaro as the captain, the team is believed to be Italian soccer's golden generation.

Speculations have already begun circulating that Cannavaro will fill the vacancy left by his mentor.