Chinese coach sees opportunity as Frenchman Perrin sacked as national soccer coach

Former coach of Chinese national soccer team Alain Perrin looks on before the start of their Asian Cup Group B soccer match against North Korea at the Canberra stadium in Canberra, Jan 18, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - With eight foreign coaches coming and going, and few of them successful, will this time Chinese soccer turn its eyes back to home?

Former China coach Gao Hongbo has been reported to sign up for the run to take charge of the national soccer team again after Frenchman Alain Perrin stepped down on Friday.

In a rare unity, Chinese media backed Gao, who became the youngest China coach at 44 when appointed in 2009.

Gao's most memorable feat with the national team in his two-year stint was a 3-0 win over South Korea in 2010 East Asian Cup, the first victory in 32 years.

"Gao Hongbo is a domestic coach, so he understands the Chinese soccer well. He has plenty of coaching experience. More importantly, he coached the national team between 2009 and 2011 when the team had a 23-11-4 record. He helped the team overcome the South Korea-phobia" commented an article on 163.com on Sunday.

However, Gao failed to impress when it came to big matches as the side crashed out of the 2011 Asian Cup in the group stage, with one victory from three matches.

As for Gao, Perrin's departure was another opportunity to resume his work in the national team. He told reporters Saturday he already submitted the application.

"On one hand, the national team position is always the ultimate goal for a Chinese coach. Since there is a chance now, I surely will throw myself at it," Gao told Sohu.com later Saturday.

"On the other hand, the national team is in a difficult moment, so I feel I am obligated to do my part," he added.

Perrin was sacked by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) on Friday after slightly less than two years in charge and the process to select his successor started almost immediately as the CFA posted a job ad on its website Saturday.

China tied Hong Kong, China 0-0 in November in last year's group match of the 2018 World Cup Asian Zone qualifier and were just theoretically alive for next stage of the qualifiers.

The result was considered the last straw to force Perrin to leave the job. If Gao could be selected, he would face an almost impossible mission to bring the team to advance to the next stage.

Gao, however, believed he had some advantage over foreign coaches.

"I worked with the national team for quite a long time and know the players well. I can be quickly adapted once I return to the job," he said.

Gao led the team to the phase of last 20 at the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in 2011 when he was informed that he would be replaced by a foreign coach, who was believed by the CFA and its sponsor Wanda Group to be more famous, experienced and capable.

But Spaniard Jose Antonio Camacho failed to work miracles in China and under him, China had a 7-2-11 record out of 20 outings. Camacho and the CFA not only split in 2013, but also got into the contract dispute. After Camacho, China continued to search its national team boss among foreign candidates until Perrin joined the team in 2014.

Perrin also left the job early as Camacho did. In a matter of fact, only one of the eight foreign coaches who served out his contract was Bora Milutinovic, who took the country to their first and only World Cup finals in 2002 in South Korea and Japan.

When asked whether he was concerned to just become a caretaker, Gao said he would do whatever Chinese soccer needs him to.

"I am always an enthusiast for Chinese soccer. As long as there is a need, I will do my part. Now we should be united," he said.