Italian legend Cannavaro named new coach of China

SHANGHAI: Italian World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was named coach of China on Friday, spearheading the ambitious country’s attempts to become a footballing force at last.

It was not immediately clear if the former Juventus and Real Madrid star will lead the team on a temporary or permanent basis -- Chinese media speculated that the upcoming China Cup may amount to a job audition.

The 45-year-old former defender will combine the job with being coach of Chinese Super League (CSL) giants Guangzhou Evergrande, making him one of the most powerful figures in Chinese football history.

He takes the post vacated in January by his mentor and compatriot Marcello Lippi, under whom Cannavaro lifted the World Cup in 2006. The 70-year-old Lippi will be a consultant under the new coaching set-up named for next week’s China Cup.