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Jonathan White

Italian manager Roberto Donadoni has become the first head coach sacked in the Covid-19 delayed 2020 Chinese Super League season, with Chinese media reporting that Jordi Cruyff will replace him at Shenzhen.
The club confirmed that the 56-year-old former AC Milan and Italy midfielder had left the club on Tuesday after losing the last three games.
“After a friendly negotiation, the club has decided that Mr Donadoni will no longer be the head coach of Shenzhen Kaisa FC.
“Mr Donadoni paid great attention to the development of the club and its young players,” Shenzhen FC said in a statement. “We wish him the best of luck in the future.”


Shenzhen won their opening game of the season, beating Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Guangzhou R&F 3-0 in the first CSL game to feature two Hongkongers starting, but have not won a point since.
The team were relegated from the top flight under Donadoni last season before being given a return for the 2020 season after Tianjin Tianhai folded.

Chinese media revealed that Roberto Donadoni has been sacked by Shenzhen FC after the 2-1 defeat to Henan Jianye last night. Shenzhen FC has been in negotiations with Jordi Cruyff and may appoint the former Chongqing Dangdai head coach as Roberto Donadoni's successor. pic.twitter.com/iQEiXFoKte
— Titan Sports Plus (@titan_plus) August 11, 2020

Going back to last season, Shenzhen have won only twice in the last 14 games.
Donadoni joined the Kaisa-owned club last July, becoming the sixth head coach since the property developer took over in April 2016. Big names have included Clarence Seedorf, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Juan Lopez Caro.
Chinese media report that Cruyff, most recently employed as Ecuador head coach, will take over. The Dutchman joined Chongqing Lifan in the 2018 season, keeping them up, before guiding them to 10th place last season.

Reports also suggest an agreement with Cruyff was in place before Donadoni’s departure was announced, although the club are yet to confirm a replacement.
Assistant coach Zhang Xiaorui has been named as caretaker with veteran striker Gao Lin given a player-coach role ahead of their next game.
Shenzhen are sixth in the eight-team group A, ahead of Rafa Benitez’s Dalian Pro and Guangzhou R&F, who are both yet to win. Those teams meet on Saturday.


Elsewhere in the CSL, Tuesday’s games saw a first win for Shijiazhuang Ever Bright when the newly promoted side beat struggling Tianjin Teda 3-0 to move to five points and fourth place.
Zhong Jiyu opened the scoring after nine minutes before two late goals following the sending off of Teda’s Zhao Honglue for a wild challenge just after the hour mark. Zang Yifeng and veteran striker Muriqui added the gloss to the scoreline for Afshin Ghotbi’s side.
Fellow promoted side Qingdao Huanghai continued their own run of good form with another point following a 0-0 draw against Chongqing Lifan, despite going down to 10 players after Wang Wei was sent off for a recklessly mistimed tackle.


Cruyff’s former side, who enjoyed two thirds of possession, had an astonishing 30 shots on goal but failed to break the deadlock leaving both sides on three points after four games.


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Chinese Super League

CSL: Shenzhen’s Roberto Donadoni first casualty, Jordi Cruyff reported replacement

Roberto Donadoni, head coach of Shenzhen FC, shouts at his players during their Chinese Super League 2020 first-round win over Guangzhou R&F. Photo: Xinhua

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Jordi Cruyff unveiled as Ecuador new coach - Ecuador National Team Headquarters, Quito, Ecuador - January 13, 2020 Ecuador new coach Jordi Cruyff during press conference REUTERS/Daniel Tapia/File Photo

CSL: Salomon Rondon rescues Dalian Pro again, while Henan Jianye come back for first win of season

Dalian Pro’s Salomon Rondon celebrates a goal with teammate Sun Guowen. Photo: Xinhua

CSL: Guangzhou Evergrande beaten, R&F slump continues

Shandong Luneng’s Guo Tianyu celebrates with Jin Jingdao after scoring against Guangzhou Evergrande in their Chinese Super League game. Photo: Xinhua

CSL: Beijing Guoan maintain perfect start after Jing-Jin derby win over Tianjin Teda

Beijing Guoan’s strong early-season form sees them topping their group in the 2020 CSL campaign. Photo: Xinhua

CSL: Eran Zahavi’s 100th Guangzhou R&F goal saves point as Kim Shin-wook snatches Shanghai Shenhua win

Kim Shin-wook of Shanghai Shenhua celebrates his goal with captain Giovanni Moreno. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

China

Football


Shenzhen were relegated from the top flight under Donadoni last season, then given a reprieve when Tianjin Tianhai folded
Chinese media report former Chongqing Lifan boss Cruyff will come in to steady the ship four games into Covid-19 delayed campaign



Shenzhen were relegated from the top flight under Roberto Donadoni last season, then given a reprieve when Tianjin Tianhai folded. Dutchman Jordi Cruyff will replace him, reports say.


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