Football | Lippi expected to take over as China’s head coach

World Cup-winning manager Marcello Lippi is reportedly on the verge of returning to China as a coach, this time as head of the national team rather than the big-spending club where he spent three years.
China Football Association official Huang Shiwei yesterday confirmed the selection process to replace Goa Hongbo was ongoing, but declined to give any details except to say that an announcement was expected by Nov. 1.
Italian media reports suggested the 68-year-old Lippi, a former Juventus manager who guided Italy to the 2006 World Cup title, would sign a lucrative deal next week to take over a Chinese team that is struggling in Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
Gao stepped down as head coach after a 2-0 loss in Uzbekistan last week, leaving China with one point from four qualifying matches and with little hope of making it to Russia in 2018.
Lippi was head coach at Guangzhou Evergrande from 2012-14, guiding the southern China club to three domestic titles and an Asian Champions League crown. AP