Former world champion Fabio Cannavaro has decided to quit his job as China national team head coach after just two matches in charge, both of them lost. The Italian coach took the job in March after compatriot Marcello Lippi left the post following the Asian Cup. At that competition China managed to reach the quarter-finals but lost 3-0 to Iran. Cannavaro's first (and last) matches in charge were at China Cup, a friendly competition, and the host nation lost 1-0 against both Thailand and Uzbekistan. China have only managed to qualify for one edition of the FIFA World Cup, in 2002, when they lost all three group matches.
Fabio Cannavaro, who has won the World Cup as a player with Italy, is also in charge of Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao, so he held both jobs at the same time. The 45-year-old announced his exit from the national team on Sunday, following a 1-0 league victory over Chongqing Dangdai Lifan. That result leaves his team second in the Super League table, three points behind leaders Beijing Guoan after seven matches. Cannavaro has won his only major trophy as a manager with Guangzhou Evergrande, they lifted the Chinese Super Cup last year.
"Out of respect for the country that has been hosting me for some years, I feel the duty to communicate that I have renounced my position as head coach of the Chinese National Football Team," Cannavaro wrote on his official Instagram account. "I wish to sincerely thank Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club and the Chinese Football Association for having offered me the position of the head coach of the two most important football teams in the country, however this double assignment would take me away from my family for too long. More than one month ago I informed my club about my intention to dedicate myself exclusively to my squad and my players. By maintaining only the position as head coach of Guangzhou Evergrande, I hope to contribute to the growth of young Chinese football players, working every day with passion and professionalism. I wish the Chinese National Team all the best for the qualifications to the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. Thanks again to everybody."
Cannavaro started his coaching career as an assistant manager at Al-Ahli in the United Arab Emirates and then in 2014 he took his first job as a head coach at Guangzhou Evergrande. Seven months later he got sacked and moved on to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. He returned to China at second-tier club Tianjin Quanjian and managed to promote them to the Super League, his biggest success as a manager so far. In November 2017 he returned to giants Guangzhou Evergrande but finished second in the league behind Shanghai SIPG.
Guangzhou Evergrande are 11/8 at Bet365 to win the Chinese Super League title this season.
04/30/19, 09:04:19 AM
