World Cup-winning manager Marcello Lippi has been named as coach of China’s national team, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) said on its website on Saturday.
The Italian replaced Gao Hongbo, who resigned this month after a 2-0 defeat in Uzbekistan dealt a further blow to the country’s slim hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
“The Chinese Football Association decided to appoint Mr. Lippi as coach of China’s men’s national team following amicable negotiations,” read a short statement on the website.
No details of the contract were revealed but Lippi will be introduced to the media at a news conference in Beijing on Friday.
The 68-year-old, who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, enjoyed a successful three-year spell with Guangzhou Evergrande, winning the Chinese League title three times and the Asian Champions League in 2013.
He will be China’s third coach this year after Gao and Frenchman Alain Perrin, who was sacked in January, as the CFA bids to fulfill the ambition of President Xi Jinping for the country to qualify for the World Cup finals for a second time.
