Juventus coach Deschamps resigns

MILAN, May 26 (Reuters) Juventus coach Didier Deschamps has resigned, Italy's SKY television reported today.

There was no official announcement from the club which could not be reached for comment.

Frenchman Deschamps took Juventus back to Serie A this season after they were demoted last year because of their role in Italy's match-fixing scandal.

Deschamps, who said this week that he wanted to manage the club in the top division, has been talking to Juventus officials.

The Turin club's hierarchy have publicly backed the former World Cup winner but media reports have consistently linked others managers to the post.

Former Juventus and Italy coach Marcello Lippi has been among those mentioned.

SKY said Deschamps would remain on the bench for Saturday's home game with Mantova where Juventus need just a point to wrap up the Serie B championship.

They achieved promotion last weekend after a 5-1 win at Arezzo despite still carrying a nine-point deduction because of the match-fixing verdict.

Deschamps, who won the Champions League with Juventus as a player in 1996, almost begged club officials to make him coach last July when Fabio Capello quit for Real Madrid following their enforced relegation.

Although several top name players including Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro also left, Deschamps did well to persuade the likes of Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and France striker David Trezeguet that it was worth playing in the second division for one season.

Along with guiding Juve to promotion, Deschamps' other notable managerial achievement was to lead Monaco to the Champions League final in 2004.

REUTERS BJR HT1435