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(Sports Focus) Cannavaro "ready" for China again

Xinhua, June 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Fabio Cannavaro said on his social media accounts on Wednesday that he will return to China to take the helm of Tianjin Quanjian, an underperforming Division A club set to fire its current coach.

"Ready for China, begins a new experience with the Tianjin Quanjian," the 42-year-old Italian posted on his Twitter and Instagram accounts, both in Italian and English, which have attracted a lot of comments.

His decision, first reported by Chinese news portal Sina, was welcomed by Chinese fans.

"I'm looking forward he will change Quanjian's fortunes and turn it into a Super League (CSL) team," said one user of Sina's twitter-like service Weibo.

"This is an adventure for Cannavaro as he is about to face difficulties in improving the players' performance," said another Weibo user. He added that the former Italy international will do better than Brazilian Vanderlei Luxemburgo as he has China experience from his one-year spell as coach of the CSL champion Guangzhou Evergrande.

Luxemburgo, former Brazil and Real Madrid coach, signed with Quanjian last September as the big-spending team aimed to make it to the CSL next season. But the team has been been struggling since, sitting ninth at the 16-team Division A standings after 11 rounds.

The former Brazil coach had vowed to "leave legacy to the Chinese club and Chinese soccer", but without a win in seven straight games, his job is on the line.

Cannavaro, former World Footballer of the Year, took charge of Guangzhou in November 2014 and was sacked last June, replaced by Brazil's Felipe Scolari. Under Cannavaro's charge, Guangzhou had 11 wins, six draws and six losses in 23 matches.

After the Chinese job, Cannavaro went on to coach Saudi Arabian champion Al Nass last October, only to be sacked for "bad results" after four months.

As a player, Cannavaro won the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year awards after captaining Italy to lift the 2006 World Cup. Endit