Italy's coach Dino Zoff announced Tuesday that he was resigning following his team's dramatic 2-1 Golden Goal defeat by France in Sunday's Euro 2000 final.
The resignation comes following a scathing attack launched Monday against Zoff by AC Milan President and former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
"I was offended as a man. Berlusconi does not have to tell me what to do," Zoff told a press conference announcing his decision.
Berlusconi described him as a 'dilettante' -- an Italian word used to describe someone who is unprofessional in his or her approach.
"He has behaved like a dilettante," said Berlusconi, who described Zoff's behavior during Euro 2000 as 'unworthy'.
Zoff added: "I know what will happen. It will be said that I benefited from the occasion, I know that my image will not come out of this unscathed, I have experience of this. But I don't want to continue."
France first appointed the former international goalkeeper with a record 112 caps for the Squadra Azzurra national coach following Italy’s elimination from the 1998 World Cup.
The 58-year-old admitted that Sunday's heartbreaking 2-1 defeat was one of the worst moments of his illustrious career - (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
