Marcello Lippi is unlikely to return to coaching at the begninning of the 2007/08 season.
Lippi took a break from football after leading Italy to success in last summer’s World Cup finals.
The 59-year-old was expected to return to the game next season, but now looks likely to scontinue his sabbatical.
Speaking at Milan’s Catholic University, Lippi suggested it would be a further “five or six months” before he makes his comeback.
“I am a football coach who is temporarily resting,” the former Juventus coach told the students.
“That’s why this summer I will be going nowhere. I’ll be off to the beach to go swimming.”