For all his multitudinous trophies and awards, Giovanni Trapattoni will forever be remembered for his failure with Italy, and his famous self-deprecating quip: "Coaches are like fish, after a while they start to stink."

The most successful coach in Serie A history, with seven titles to his name, uttered his immortal words on announcing his departure from Fiorentina at the end of a tumultuous 1999-2000 season.

And it is that remark which has returned to haunt the 65-year-old following his departure as Italy coach on Friday - the punishment for the Azzurri's exit at the group stages of Euro 2004.

It was the second major tournament in which Trapattoni's Italy had failed to make an impression - they were eliminated in the second-round in Japan and Korea in 2002 - and such failure will simply not be tolerated in the country.

The contract extension, which he had so craved, did not come.

Trapattoni was always attached to the defensive mentality which brought him so much success in club football, and it was an apparent unwillingness to risk which ruined the Azzurri's chances both this summer and two years ago.

He took charge of Italy for 44 matches, winning 25 of those, drawing 12 and losing seven.

Despite his palpable failure to find the formula to make Italy winners again, his success as a coach, and his decency as a man, should not be forgotten.

His coaching career saw countless highs - he won championships for Juventus, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich - but one notable low point.

On May 29, 1985, Trapattoni's Juventus won the European Cup against Liverpool on a day when football was shamed.

Thirty-nine supporters, mostly Italian, died that day when English hooligans rioted and caused the collapse of a wall.

He led Juve to another Italian league championship before departing to end an 10-year spell at the helm.

At Fiorentina, his hands were tied by the club's financial precariousness which came to light only a year after his departure and led to their relegation this spring.

Trap had moved there in 1998 after a spell with Bayern Munich turned sour and a move to Cagliari failed to work out. He accused his players of performing beneath themselves and famously exploded in rage at one press call, singling out Germany international Thomas Strunz in one fit of pique.

The appeal of Trapattoni lies in his youthful ebullience.

His shrill whistles from pitchside not only alert his players, they almost deafen.

Trapattoni, who plans to return to club management, made several mistakes as Italy coach, but he continued to insist that the position was the most difficult he had ever occupied.

And he had a warning for successor Marcello Lippi, confirmed as the new Azzurri chief on Friday, as he reflected on Italy's poor showing in Portugal.

"I will tell my successor that to coach the national team is much, much, much more difficult than being in charge of a club," he said.

"You need to have the patience of Job."

More importantly than that, an Italy coach needs to produce a winning, convincing team. And it is Trapattoni's failure to do that which has ultimately cost him his job.