World Cup 2022: Chinese FA need to replace Marcello Lippi – ‘Big Phil’ Scolari offers more of the same

Italian World Cup winner walked away for a second time but will bosses make a bold decision or stick to what they know?
Former Brazil and Guangzhou Evergrande coach Luiz Felipe Scolari tops the list of names linked to top job

Jonathan White

Published: 3:01pm, 18 Nov 2019

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With a slap on the table, Marcello Lippi was done. The World Cup-winning Italian called time on coaching the China national team after a 2-1 loss to Syria in Dubai last week.

So where does this leave China?

In some ways pretty much the same place as when Lippi walked away for the first time back in January after the AFC Asian Cup in the UAE.

The answer then was to pick Fabio Cannavaro, the man who lifted the World Cup as Lippi’s captain in 2006.

Cannavaro followed Lippi into the China job just as he had the Guangzhou Evergrande job in 2015, when Lippi graduated to the China national team.

The links between Guangzhou Evergrande and the national team have only strengthened since and with Cannavaro back at the Chinese Super League giants after a stint at Tianjin Quanjian it was expected he would get the top job too.

He did but it proved too much for him. Cannavaro was in charge of both Evergrande and China, which some would argue is essentially the same job anyway given the club’s de facto national team status, but quit two games in after a poor showing at the China Cup.

The US$28 million question: who replaces Marcello Lippi as China boss?

China lost 1-0 to Thailand in their opener and then by the same scoreline to Uzbekistan in the third place play-off. Back came Lippi until last Thursday.

While the CFA have shown its willingness to stick with what they know Cannavaro’s stock has gone down considerably since.

He’s had his troubles in Guangzhou and many expect him to leave at the end of the season. The team are still top of the CSL and play Shanghai SIPG in Guangzhou next weekend, a game that could make or break their campaign and Cannavaro’s tenure.

It was this game last year that contributed to the end of their run of seven straight titles after SIPG won 4-3 at Tianhe Stadium.

The man who replaced Cannavaro when he was dismissed in 2015, Luiz Felipe Scolari had – and there is a pattern emerging – been linked with a return to Evergrande to replace him again.

Since Lippi walked away Big Phil, who won the World Cup as Brazil boss in 2002 sambaing past China 4-0 on the way, has been linked with the vacant China job.

Xinhua reported that the recently sacked Palmeiras boss has thrown his hat in the ring.

Scolari has the pedigree, and speaks the same language as many of the players who are in the frame for naturalisation – and might provide incentive so that Lippi-initiated process continues.

Short term Scolari could bring the success that China wants, at least getting them over the line in the group stage and to the next round of Fifa World Cup 2022 qualification.

He also knows the Evergrande players from his three years in charge there, where they won three CSL titles and the AFC Champions League.

China at crossroads again as Lippi quits following shock loss to Syria

But at 71 he is the same age as Lippi and not the man to develop the team over the next decade.

Were he to take over and then get China to the next World Cup he would set a record as the oldest manager. Otto Rehhagel was 71 years and 317 days of age when he was in charge of Greece at the World Cup in 2010. Scolari will turn 74 before the Qatar tournament kicks off.

Similarly, age is an issue for the Evergrande players he coached so well before. They cannot go on forever, despite 39-year-old Zheng Zhi offering evidence to the contrary.

China boss Lippi’s US$28m a year second to only Mourinho on rich list

Scolari’s last proper game in the World Cup was a 7-1 loss to Germany in the semi-final in 2014 and while that does not reflect on his career as a whole, it’s a low point. Would China offer a new nadir?

There is pressure in the China role and expectation to get them to a second World Cup. Lippi’s two tenures also hint at the frustrations inherent in working for the Chinese FA.

Nevertheless, the money is tempting. Lippi was reported to be one of the best paid managers in football, although that brings its own pressure. “I was well paid and I take the full responsibility,” Lippi said as he resigned.

Outgoing Guangzhou Evergrande’s Luiz Felipe Scolari (centre) leaves China in 2017. Photo: AFP

Aside from Scolari, Lippi's assistant, Massimiliano Maddaloni, is reported to have expressed an interest. Cosmin Olaroiu, manager of fifth-place Jiangsu Suning, is also said to be in the running.

Others will be linked – Jurgen Klinsmann and Jose Mourinho were mentioned when Lippi left the first time – and it will be interesting to see what direction the CFA go in.

Were they to opt for a Chinese coach then Li Xiaopeng at Shandong Luneng is the obvious candidate. He’s also young at 44 and his team are the “best of the rest” sitting in fourth behind title rivals Evergrande, SIPG and Beijing Guoan. That’s some achievement when those three sides have the best domestic (and foreign) talent.

However, the CFA don’t do obvious and with Chinese football once again at a crossroads, the temptation is to stick to what they know. That means the proven Scolari.

Based on recent history, they might want to keep whoever takes over away from the UAE.

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