Another significant name has gathered in Asian football. Three foreign coaches, Fabio Cannavaro, Paulo Bento, and Felix Sanchez, are in the final competition for the new head coach position of the Chinese national football team, which is preparing for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup.
Chinese "Sohu.com" reported on 29th of last month (Korea time) that "the Chinese Football Association (CFA) has entered the practical final stage of appointing the next national team coach," adding, "the range has been narrowed down to three foreign coaches. Fabio Cannavaro has submitted his application directly, and Paulo Bento and Felix Sanchez are also included among the candidates." The association will begin serious negotiations in mid-July, and the final appointment results are expected to be announced as early as September.
China parted ways with coach Branko Ivankovic immediately after failing to advance to the finals in the second round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers in June. Currently, Dejan Jorjevic, who was leading the U-20 national team, is temporarily in charge of the team as they prepare for the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship in July.
The most talked-about figure is Cannavaro. The 2006 Ballon d'Or winner and legendary center-back who led Italy to World Cup victory showed his active willingness by submitting his application this time. Local prominent football journalist Xu Zhang noted, "Cannavaro wants 'an opportunity to prove himself over money'" and stated, "His salary demand is lower than the market average, and the Chinese national team sees this as their last challenge to return to the European stage."
Cannavaro already has deep ties to the Chinese stage. He has managed Guangzhou Evergrande, Tianjin Quanjian, and during a short period in 2019, he also served as the national team coach. However, the results at that time were minimal, and he later took on European clubs like Italy and Croatia but repeatedly faced dismissal and parting without significant accomplishments. Currently, he is in a situation where restoring his honor is crucial.
Moreover, the emergence of coach Bento undoubtedly attracts even more attention from Korean football fans. He led the South Korean national team for the longest period from August 2018 to December 2022 and was the key figure in bringing South Korea to the round of 16 at the 2022 Qatar World Cup for the first time in 12 years. He built the team based on ball possession tactics and left after achieving a triumphant win against Portugal.
Bento later took charge of the UAE national team but was dismissed in March due to the 16th-round elimination in the 2023 Asian Cup and poor performance in the final qualifiers. He is currently out of work, but there are rising expectations that the Chinese national team may reach out to him again, potentially allowing him to return to the Asian stage.
Interestingly, Chinese media are emphasizing Bento's brief experience with Chongqing Lifan in 2017 without mentioning his tenure with the South Korean national team. This suggests that they are placing greater significance on his domestic league experience rather than his successful track record in Korea.
The third candidate, Felix Sanchez, has created the most recent success story on the Asian stage. Having grown up in Qatar's youth system, he led Qatar to victory in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and became the first to host the World Cup in 2022 Qatar. His understanding of the entirety of Asia and experience in long-term nurturing systems are highly regarded as strengths.
Local media compared the strengths and characteristics of the three candidates, stating, "Cannavaro shows adaptability to the local environment, Bento exhibits international experience and tactics, while Sanchez displays strengths in youth development and systematic management." Among these, the Chinese Football Association has a clear commitment to appointing a foreign coach and plans to enter into final negotiations regarding salaries, plans, and player restructuring.
If coach Bento takes charge of the Chinese national team, the possibility of a reunion with South Korean football is also being speculated. In the future, there may come a day when Bento faces Korea again in international tournaments such as the Asian Cup or World Cup qualifiers. Will the figure who wrote the miracle of the round of 16 this time take a seat on the bench against Korea? A peculiar restructuring of Asian football is beginning.
[OSEN]