Hot on the heels of news that Sven-Göran Eriksson is on his way from Guangzhou R&F to Shanghai East Asia next season, the Chinese Super League managerial merry-go-round took another turn at the weekend, with former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro hotly tipped to replace Guangzhou Evergrande's Marcello Lippi, the coach he won the World Cup under.
The 66-year-old veteran Lippi, who led Guangzhou Evergrande to Asian Champions League glory in 2013, has announced he is stepping aside, and will become the team’s chief technical officer.
“It is my last match as head coach for the club,” he said as Guangzhou clinched its fourth successive CSL title on Sunday. “I will be 67 years old in the near future, and I do not want to be the head coach any more.”
“It is understood that, if all goes smoothly, Cannavaro will arrive in Guangzhou next week when the club will hold a press conference to formally unveil the new coach to the outside world,” the Shanghai Daily report.
The former center-back is currently being investigated by authorities in his home city of Naples on suspicion of illegally sidestepping one million Euros in tax.
The 41-year-old had a glittering career at Parma, Juventus and Real Madrid and won the world player of the year award in 2006. He is currently on the coaching staff at Al-Ahli in the UAE.
Cannavaro was Lippi's captain during the Azzurris’ fourth World Cup victory in 2006. It won't be the only reuniting of an ex player and his old international boss in the CSL, with Shanghai East Asia goalkeeper coach and That's columnist Ian Walker having played for England under Sven.
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