Italy boss Marcello Lippi has revealed he urged Juventus to make Luciano Spalletti coach following his departure four years ago.

Lippi rates the Roma boss as the best coach in Serie A and said: "Spalletti is the best. Second, fourth, the Champions League, Coppa Italia. All this, with a squad significantly lower than that of Roberto Mancini's Inter.

"For Spalletti, I recommended him to the Triad in 2004, after my exit."

On the surprise of this season, Lippi added: "It may seem like a provocation, but for me it was the Juventus of (Claudio) Ranieri. They came from Serie B, now third, also in the first round of the Champions League and now second behind Inter."