Trapattoni steps down from Benfica

Benfica coach Giovanni Trapattoni, seen here in 2004, has stepped down after leading the Lisbon-based club to its first league title in 11 years, saying he wanted to be closer to his family in Italy.

Benfica coach Giovanni Trapattoni has stepped down after leading the Lisbon-based club to its first league title in 11 years, saying he wanted to be closer to his family in Italy.

"My destiny is to return. I need to return to be with my family and I have other problems to resolve after that," the 66-year-old told a news conference Tuesday.

"I want to thank this very famous club, the team, its president, everyone who worked with me and contributed from the clothing department on up."

Trapattini, whose tenure with the Italy national side ended after a disappointing Euro 2004 finals where they exited in the first round, had a year left on his two-year contract with Benfica.

Portuguese media have tipped former Spain coach and a one-time coach of Benfica, Jose Antonio Camacho, as a possible replacement as well as former Ajax manager Ronald Koeman and former Lyon coach Paul Le Guen.

Trapattoni meanwhile has been linked to Italian side Lazio. He has won eight other titles, mostly in his native Italy.

Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira had said he wanted the Italian coach to stay and steer the club in its first Champions League campaign in years.

After Benfica won the league title, Trapattoni said he was tempted to stay on with the team although his family was urging that he return to Italy.

"I am certain that we could go far in the Champions League. It is not Italian football that I miss, I miss my grandchildren, children and wife," he said at the time.

Since then Benfica missed winning a domestic double after they were beaten 2-1 by Vitoria Setubal in Sunday's Portuguese Cup final.

Benfica, which celebrated its centenary last year, is Portugal's most widely supported football club. It claims to have over five million fans around the world and is historically the nation's most titled team.