Former MetroStars midfielder Robert Donadoni was named successor to Marcello Lippi as coach of world champion Italy, ANSA reported Friday. Donadoni, who obviously has big boots to fill following Lippi’s World Cup triumph, did not receive the warmest of welcomes from the Italian media, who said the 43-year-old lacked the credentials to keep Italy top of the pile. However, his former teammates backed him to do well. Demetrio Albertini, who played with Donadoni at AC Milan and Italy, said he could potentially become “one of the very great coaches.” Giuseppe Giannini, another national team teammate who starred with Donadoni at the 1990 World Cup, called the move “an adventurous choice.” Italy’s coach also got the thumbs up from several top Italian coaches including Carlo Ancelotti, Cesare Maldini, and his former coach Azeglio Vicini. Guido Rossi, the man who appointed Donadoni to the post, said “I chose him because he’s young and won’t be crushed by Lippi’s shadow.” Donadoni has limited prior coaching experience, coaching Lecce, Genoa, and Livorno in his short career. He played two years with the MetroStars, 1996-97.