Marcello Lippi is set to become technical director of Guangzhou Evergrande after announcing his retirement from management on Sunday.
Lippi, 66, won his third straight Chinese Super League title with Guangzhou at the weekend before announcing that he was stepping down from his role.
However, the 2006 World Cup winner with Italy is to take on the new position upstairs, with Fabio Cannavaro likely to take over as coach.
"For my father, a new life begins now," Lippi's son Davide told Sky Sport Italia. "It's a new chapter in an important and emotional career for all of his family. It was important that it ended this way, with a third title. It would have been horrible to end such a long career without a victory. Today's been a very emotional day."
Davide confirmed that his father's decision had not been taken in the heat of the moment.
"He's been thinking about it for a while," he said. "He's had this in his mind. He's still very enthusiastic and this is a good thing. There's always room in football for legends, and it's right that he is seen as such."
Lippi enjoyed plenty of success throughout his managerial career, winning a host of trophies at Juventus, including five Serie A titles and one Champions League crown, while also taking charge of the likes of Inter Milan, Napoli and Atalanta.