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June 18th marked another chapter in the often-turbulent saga of Chinese men’s football, as news emerged that U20 coach Aleksandar Janković has been tapped to take the reins of the national team on an interim basis. His primary task? To guide the team through the upcoming East Asian Cup, slated for July 7th-16th in South Korea.
The shift comes after the Chinese Football Association ended its contract with previous coach, signaling a quick pivot following the team’s failure to advance to the fourth round of World Cup qualifiers. Janković’s selection as the interim coach speaks to a need for stability and a desire to quickly adapt to a changing situation.
Janković, previously at the helm of the Chinese national team’s Asian Games squad, led them to the quarter-finals at the Hangzhou Asian Games. More recently, he coached the Chinese U19 team, securing a tournament victory at the Weinan Four Nations Tournament in June, with wins against Vietnam and South Korea, as well as a draw against Uzbekistan, showcasing his ability to develop and lead young squads.
The move comes after former head coach, whose tenure ended abruptly with the Football Association terminating his contract, after overseeing a little over a dozen matches with a win rate hovering below 30%. This further underscores the challenges and high turnover rate that has become synonymous with Chinese football.
This latest change represents the 14th managerial appointment in the last 23 years. From the days of Arie Haan, who took charge in 2002, to Ivanković’s swift departure in 2025, the national team has experienced a revolving door of leadership. The average stint for a coach is less than a year and a half, a stark contrast to the longer tenures seen in other major footballing nations. The shortest tenure was that of Fu Bo, who only managed six friendly matches.
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