The
Chinese Football
Association has made Guus Hiddink of the Netherlands the top
candidate to take over the Chinese national soccer team, a CFA
source said yesterday.
A
group, made up of four CFA officials, had drawn up a list of three
candidates for the post which has been vacant since Serbian Bora
Milutinovic stepped down in July.
Besides Hiddink, former French coach Aime Jacquet and former
Japanese coach Philippe Troussier are also on the list.
Hiddink, who led South Korea to the World Cup semi-finals, is CFA's
first choice to fill the vacancy as he has a profound understanding
of Asian soccer, the official, who preferred anonymity, said.
Moreover, the 55-year-old Dutchman had impressed the CFA with his
strict training regime when he was at the helm of the South Korean
team.
Milutinovic had been advocating the "happy soccer" philosophy since
he took over the Chinese team in January 2000. But his training
approach, which was perceived as weak, often came in for criticism
from the media and some players.
After guiding China to the World Cup, he was criticized following
three straight defeats in the tournament in South Korea.
The official said the group believed that Hiddink's rigid training
methods would benefit the national side.
However, Hiddink recently said he would not consider coaching the
Chinese team before 2004 when his contract with Dutch club PSV
Eindhoven expires.
But the CFA is confident of landing the Dutch coach because of its
close ties with the Dutch-based Philips Co. Ltd, which owns PSV
Eindhoven.
If
CFA fails to get Hiddink, Troussier will be the second most likely
choice for the job.
Humberto Coelho, who steered Portugal to the semi-finals at Euro
2000, may well turn out to be the dark horse, the official
added.
(eastday.com August 14,
2002)