Guardiola rules out coaching in China, but who knows

Bayern Munich manager Josep Guardiola shrugged off future coaching job in Chinese clubs but everything now seems possible in China as the country launched an ambitious soccer reform plan.

Guardiola told reporters in China that he had not considered a journey to the east for now.

"No, at least not the next few years," the Spaniard said on Wednesday before the German giant's third and last friendly here, against Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande Thursday evening.

As China's soccer is climbing back from the rock bottom that was accompanied by corruption scandals, a profound soccer reform plan was launched early this year. It sets goals for Chinese soccer and puts forward favorable policies to encourage investments.

Even before the reform, the wealthy club owners already started to sign world renowned coaches and players.

Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi was the most famous coach ever joining a Chinese Super League club when he arrived in Guangzhou Evergrande in 2012. The Italian resigned last year, succeeded by his protege and former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro.

Frenchman Philippe Troussier and former England boss Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson also had their experience in China.

When the Chinese keep bringing in high-profile coaches and players, most recently Brazil international Robinho signing with Evergrande with a monthly salary of a million euros, these foreigners have found they need it a hard job to be adapted and meet their Chinese bosses' expectations.

Cannavaro had to step down just over 200 days in charge before Brazil's World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari took the reign last month.

Eriksson parted company with Guangzhou R&F and this year joined Shanghai East Asia, where the former England boss is reportedly paid 5.5 million euros, which would place him among the top 20 best paid managers in the world according to the latest study by France Football magazine.

"White Witchdoctor" Troussier, 59, was less lucky than Eriksson as he just stepped down as Hangzhou Greentown coach early this month following a three-year stay in Shenzhen Ruby, which was relegated to the second division in 2011 and failed to return to the top flight under his rein.

Troussier, who led Japan to final 16 in 2002 World Cup, admitted coaching job in China was not easy when he was about to leave Shenzhen.

"In the past, I was used to using my heart to make decisions, when I believed I could get through all the difficulties with my passion and hard work. But now I think I will use my brain more in the future," he said. Endi