Juventus coach Marcello Lippi says he will take time out from the game and has ruled out coaching another Italian club side.

“I want to take a break for six or seven months,” Lippi told Gazzetta dello Sport’s website.

“I’ll go to the Delle Alpi to watch Juve’s games then I am certain that after that spell of rest my hands will start to sweat again and the desire to coach will return to me but not with any other Italian team.’

Lippi’s comments suggestthat he would relish the prospect of replacing Giovanni Trapattoni as coach of the Italian national team or alternatively, he could findwork in the English or Spanish league.

“I have always said that maybe I would go abroad or to the national team but only after that six or seven months,” said Lippi.

“Who wouldn’t like to coach the national side?,” said Lippi when asked about he prospect of succeeding Trapattoni.

” From June 12 I will be the number one fan of the Italy team and I hope that they win the European championships. Trapattoni has done very well to form a good compact team. Then if they call on me I will be honoured,” he added.

Lippi said he had already rejected a number of approaches during this season.

“I refused any kind of contact. A lot of clubs called me but I turned them down,” he said.

In his two spells at the Turin club Lippi won five Italian titles and took Juventus to four Champions League finals, winning the trophy in 1996.