ZCZC
BSP-14
FBL-OLY-ASIA-CHN-NED-HIDDINK
Ambitious China turn to Hiddink to fulfil Olympic hopes
SHANGHAI, Sept 6, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Highly respected Dutch coach Guus
Hiddink looks poised to take on a leading role in China’s aggressive push to
finally become a force in international football.
The 71-year-old was pictured this week — glasses perched on his nose and
taking notes — watching China’s under-21 side beat Myanmar 1-0 at home, amid
reports that he is set to be formally appointed coach to lead the team into
the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
When confirmed by the Chinese Football Association (CFA), the former Dutch
national team manager will join another well-known veteran, the Italian World
Cup winner Marcello Lippi, in China’s coaching set-up.
The 70-year-old Lippi has been in charge of the senior side since 2016 and
overseen a steady improvement, although China still failed to reach the World
Cup in Russia and languish at 75th in the FIFA rankings.
“Although the Chinese Football Association has not officially announced it,
the famous coach Hiddink has begun to enter the role of head coach,” the
state Xinhua news agency said, noting that he remained in the stands during
the under-21s’ win over Myanmar on Tuesday.
Soccer News said that Hiddink — whose last job was a caretaker spell at
Chelsea in 2015-2016 — met the players before the game.
The Dutchman will be paid just less than four million euros ($4.7 million)
a year after tax, Chinese media have said.
He is being brought in as the Tokyo 2020 Games loom into view and as the
Chinese government pushes an ambitious agenda to ramp up football from
grassroots all the way to the senior team.
Like Lippi, Hiddink comes with a wealth of experience at club and
international level.
In addition to his two emergency stints at Chelsea, he also coached Real
Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Valencia, among others.
Hiddink is perhaps best known for inspiring co-hosts South Korea to a shock
semi-final spot at the 2002 World Cup.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1120 hrs