Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande announced today that World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi would replace Lee Jang-soo as the team's new coach.

"In accordance with the strategic needs of the club... the following decision was made: to hire Mr. Marcello Lippi as the head coach of Guangzhou Evergrande," the club said in a statement.

The statement went on to add that Lippi's initial contract period would run for two and half years, but did not go into details regarding Lippi's salary.

Lippi, who led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, has been out of coaching since Italy's ignominious performance at the 2010 World Cup Finals, when they became the first defending champions to exit the tournament at the group stage.

Speaking at a press conference broadcast live on Chinese state television, Lippi said he was first contacted by the club in May last year.

"I dispatched an assistant to go see the club's matches, which made me even more determined [to come], he said. "I am very enthusiastic about coming to China."

Despite the 2010 World Cup debacle, the silver-haired Italian comes with an outstanding pedigree at club level, having coached Juventus to Champions League glory as well as several Serie A titles.