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Popovic’s snub forces Shenhua to look elsewhere
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SHANGHAI Greenland Shenhua is still looking for a manager for the new season after it was reportedly rejected by Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic.
London’s Daily Telegraph reported yesterday that the Chinese Super League side “held lengthy talks” with the A-League side boss over the past week, offering a multimillion-dollar contract to the former Socceroo.
But Popovic eventually declined the offer, making it clear to various suitors that he needed absolute control over players and backroom staff.
Shenhua ended its contract with Spaniard Gregorio Manzano after a fourth-place finish in the 2016 CSL. It had been linked to other coaches, including former PSG manager Laurent Blanc and former Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini, though the latter said he preferred to stay in Europe.
When approached yesterday, Shenhua said the club did not have any latest updates regarding its managerial selection.
Popovic was believed to be the preferred candidate thanks to his experience of coaching in Asia. He helped Wanderers to the 2014 AFC Champions League crown, and his club also beat CSL powerhouse Guangzhou Evergrande.
Shenhua President Wu Xiaohui said earlier in a TV interview that Manzano’s ambitions were not in sync with the club’s, as the Spaniard did not think his squad was strong enough to achieve the goals set by the club for the 2017 season.
“We always make the club’s future development a priority when making choices,” said Wu. “We will look for and sign new players to boost the team’s strength. The manager we are looking for does not have to be famous, but should be suitable for the club.”
Shenhua’s city rival SIPG named former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur coach Andre Villas-Boas as its new manager to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson. It described AVB as young and ambitious, which matches the club’s determination of winning at least one title from the three competitions next year — the CSL, China Football Association Cup and the AFC Champions League.
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