Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic appointed as the national football team coach of China.
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Croatian Branko Ivankovic has been appointed as the head coach of the Chinese men's national team, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced on Saturday. Ivankovic, aged 69, transitions to this role following his tenure as the coach of the Oman national team since 2020.
He steps into the shoes left by Serbian Aleksandar Jankovic, who was at the helm for a year and oversaw the team's performance during the Asian Cup. Under Jankovic's guidance, China's journey in the tournament concluded in the group stage after securing two draws and suffering a defeat against the hosts, Qatar. Qatar went on to clinch the Asian title on February 10th, defending their championship successfully.
This coaching change occurs against a backdrop of stagnant progress in Chinese football, which remains ranked 88th in the FIFA rankings a position unchanged from a decade ago. This stagnation comes despite the Chinese government's pronounced ambitions to elevate the nation's standing in global football.
Ivankovic's appointment is made more notable by the broader context of challenges facing Chinese football, including a series of corruption scandals that have tarnished the sport's reputation in the country. A recent documentary aired by Chinese state television in January shed light on these issues, featuring a confession by former coach Li Tie. Li admitted to engaging in bribery to secure wins and promotion for Wuhan Zall to China's top football tier.
Furthermore, the Chinese press reported that Li Tie had been sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday, marking a significant fall from grace. The corruption saga extends to the higher echelons of Chinese football governance, with the former CFA president Chen Xuyuan admitting to corruption charges in January. The trial revealed Chen had accepted bribes totaling over 81 million yuan (approximately 10.4 million euros), including a significant sum from Li Tie for his appointment as the national team coach.
Chen Xuyuan's sentencing to 15 years in prison, alongside the 13-year sentence for CFA vice president Du Zhaocai, underscores the gravity of the corruption within Chinese football. These sentences are part of a broader anti-corruption campaign led by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, aimed at cleansing the sport and governance from within.
As Branko Ivankovic takes the reins of the Chinese national team, he faces the dual challenge of navigating the team through competitive football landscapes and contributing to the rehabilitation of the sport's image in China amidst these turbulent times.
