Opinion | Chinese Football Association should stop papering over the cracks and replace Marcello Lippi with a young mainlander
Italian manager is highly-respected but China must focus on development of their own coaches if they are serious about winning a World Cup
China manager Marcello Lippi might not be known as that for much longer if results such as Thursday night’s 6-0 loss to Wales continue.
The World Cup-winning Italian has been in the job for 18 months and has so far been judged as a success, of sorts, in keeping the country’s dreams of Russia 2018 alive a lot longer than anyone expected.
The view on social media suggested fans thought China would have had a chance of making it if the 69-year-old had been in charge for the whole qualifying campaign rather than taking over from Gao Hongbo midway through.
The Wales result aside, Lippi is respected as a coach in China. He comes from a country with a strong football history, something which he contributed to as a player and manager, capped with guiding them to victory at the 2006 World Cup.
Lippi’s glittering résumé, accumulated over many years, is another reason he is held in such esteem in a country that prizes success and respects experience.