China's troubled soccer is still searching for a new coach. However, an absurd opposition has emerged concerning the possibility of appointing a Korean leader.

On the 15th (Korean time), 'NetEase' reported that "the Chinese Football Association (CFA) has confirmed the dismissal of coach Branco Ivanković. Various figures are starting to be mentioned as candidates for the next head coach."

Chinese soccer has parted ways with coach Ivanković after about 1 year and 4 months. The national team sent off coach Aleksandar Janković last February. The decisive reason was the elimination from the Asian Cup group stage for the first time in 13 years.

At that time, China finished with a dismal record of 0 goals, 2 draws, and 1 loss, unable to score a single goal in the 2023 Qatar Asian Cup. It was the first humiliation in history for Chinese soccer to finish 3 group matches in the Asian Cup with 0 goals and 0 wins.

Several candidates have emerged for the successor to coach Janković. Candidates include Choi Kang-hee, coach of Shandong Taishan, Seo Jung-won, coach of Chengdu Rongcheng, and Jürgen Klinsmann, who was dismissed in Korea. The CFA's final choice was veteran coach Ivanković, who has experience winning the Chinese Super League (Shandong Luneng in 2010), as well as leading teams like Hannover (Germany), Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia), the Iranian national team, and the Omani national team.

However, coach Ivanković did not meet expectations. Under his leadership, China recorded a 2nd place finish in group C of the Asian second qualifying round for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, successfully advancing to the third qualifying round. The results under Ivanković were 1 win, 2 draws, and 1 loss.

The problem was the results in the third qualifying round, which is the most important. With the World Cup expanding to 48 countries, expectations surged that China might be able to make it to the main stage. However, coach Ivanković ended the third qualifying round with a dismal record of 3 wins and 7 losses, finishing 5th in group C, failing to avoid a sixth consecutive failure to qualify for the main event since the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

As a result, the CFA terminated the contract with coach Ivanković due to poor performance. It is said that the contract between the two parties included a condition that allowed termination if the World Cup qualification was unsuccessful.

The Chinese national team is now looking for a new coach. Local reports suggest that names of Korean leaders, familiar with the Asian stage, are being mentioned again. Among the candidates are Shin Tae-yong, vice president of the Korea Football Association, who distinguished himself in Indonesia, Seo Jung-won, manager of Chengdu Rongcheng, and Choi Kang-hee, coach of Shandong Taishan.

However, there is a significant atmosphere of opposition within China. China's soccer journalist Song Cheong-ryang claimed through social media that "we must absolutely not appoint a Korean leader as the team manager. They have a strong tendency toward collective egotism and place far too much importance on personal interests. Above all, their leadership is not great."

He also noted, "The new budget for appointing a coach set by the CFA is around $1.5 million (20 billion won). This is relatively low for a national team manager," adding, "However, if they properly search within the European market, they can bring in a good coach." He emphasized that the coaching position should be given to a leader from Europe rather than a Korean coach.

However, for Korean leaders, it is uncertain whether they would be willing to accept an offer if the Chinese national team does not make a good proposal. The Chinese national team has changed coaches as many as 14 times since 2002. They have repeatedly changed coaches without achieving excellent results, placing a burden on the position akin to a poisoned chalice.

For now, Shin Tae-yong and Seo Jung-won have not been in contact with the Chinese national team. Both have proven their leadership separately with the Indonesian national team and at Chengdu, but it appears that they have not yet received any offer from the Chinese side.

[OSEN]