Gao named interim coach of Chinese national team
Print Edition
FORMER men’s team head coach Gao Hongbo was back at the helm of the national side, although on an interim basis, following the sacking of Frenchman Alain Perrin last month.
The Chinese Football Association said in a statement on its official website that it had taken the decision to go back to Gao for the top job because of limited time available with two matches still left to play for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
The CFA said it will “prudently and professionally continue its search for a head coach for the long term development of Chinese football.”
“With limited time (before the World Cup qualifying matches), we looked for a coach who is familiar with the national team players, the team’s playing style, as well as their opponents,” Lin Xiaohua, a CFA official, said.
“China still has a chance of advancing (to the 2018 World Cup), and the association’s decision was taken for the good of the national team,” Lin said.
Lin however would not speculate on Gao’s future if China fails to qualify for what would be its second-ever World Cup.
Perrin was sacked after China’s poor performance in the second round qualifying group stage matches. It is third in the group and seven points off the pace of group leader Qatar. Gao faces an herculean task to see China through.
CFA had announced on its website that it was looking for a new head coach for the national team. By the January 29 deadline, it had received a total of 45 applications from 18 countries.
Though the list of the applicants was never revealed, media reports claimed it contained the names of current Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, former Evergrande manager and World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi, former Atletico Madrid manager Gregorio Manzano and Brazil’s Gazeta Esportiva.
Gao had earlier told the media that he had applied for the job. He said he felt “responsible to help the national team in its time of need.”
A Beijing native, Gao, 50, led the Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai to the league title in 2007. He coached the national team from 2009 to 2011 and was replaced by Spaniard Jose Antonio Camacho after China’s early exit from the Asian Cup.
Gao will take charge of the national team for the qualifiers against Maldives on March 24 and Qatar on March 29.
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