Camacho’s gone but who will be next? The CFA say they’ve begun their hunt for a new head coach and our reporter Wang Dong had the chance to talk to one of those who’s very much in the frame to take over - Guangzhou Evergrande’s manager Marcello Lippi. And he didn’t rule out the chance of taking the top job.
The CFA has said the next coach for the national team should have a profound career in the Chinese league, which makes Lippi the favorite to take over the seat Camacho left. Lippi has been the coach of Guangzhou Evergrande since May last year. The Italian has led the side to 32 wins, 12 draws and seven losses so far. Guangzhou had won the Chinese league the last two seasons. Lippi also led the side in the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League two years in a row. He also led Italy to the World Cup title in 2006.
Other condidates include former Shandong Luneng coach Tumb-ak-ović who has rich experience coaching in China. The Serbian helped establish Shandong as a significant force within the Chinese Super League. He helped the side win the league by 17 points and the FA cup in 2006. Their dominance was repeated again when they won the league title in 2008. Tumb-ak-ovic is now the coach of newly promoted Wuhan Zall and is also in the running for the top job.
Meanwhile, former national team coach Gao Hong-bo is also a favorite to take over. He led China’s Chang-chun Yatai to become League Champions in 2007. Gao was China’s coach from 2009 to 2011.
He secured qualification for the 2011 Asia Cup and aimed to win the title, which led to a revival in interest amongst some Chinese football fans, China had also won 1-0 against France in June 2010, as well as holding World Cup quarter finalists Paraguay to a 1-1 draw in September 2010. But the early exit in the Asia cup saw him replaced by Camacho.