Former China national football team manager Gao Hongbo is looking to get his former position back. (Photo : Getty Images)
Former China national football team manager Gao Hongbo expressed his desire to coach Team Dragon once more after French head coach Alain Perrin was sacked by the Chinese Football Association on Friday last week.
The 49-year-old Gao said that he is burdened to improve the China national team at the moment and that he thinks he is the man for the job.
"It's a difficult time for Chinese football, and I can feel the duty on my shoulder," Gao told Xinhua on Monday, as reported by Sportskeeda. "With a lot of research on the Chinese Super League and Asian football, I think I can help the team. I hope to make a contribution to the development of Chinese football."
The former national team striker was the head coach of Team Dragon from 2009 to 2011 as the youngest person to take the position in 30 years of the team's existence.
China had won 23 games, lost four, and drawn 11 during his time as chief bench tactician, which began in May 2009. Still he was dismissed weeks before the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in December 2011.
His replacement, Spanish coach Jose Antonio Camacho, was a flop as China went on to have a 7-11-2 win-loss-draw slate.
The 59-year-old Perrin, who was hired in February last year, had a 15-4-9 record with Team Dragon. His sacking was said to be the consequence of the team's recent struggles, especially the back-to-back goalless draws with Hong Kong in the 2018 World Cup qualifying tournament that put the national team's chances on the brink.
Xinhuanet noted that "a statement on the CFA's official site says the decision came after a long and friendly meeting with the former Portsmouth manager".
