Thursday , March 28 2024

China’s Shandong Luneng announce Germany’s Felix Magath as new head coach!

Shandong Luneng FCChinese Super League side and AFC Champions League quarterfinalists Shandong Luneng Taishan FC have announced former FC Bayern Munich boss Felix Magath will be their new head coach.

Magath joins the CSL outfit following the resignation of former coach Mano Menezes of Brazil who, despite guiding his charges to the last eight of Asia’s premier club competition, failed to hit the heights domestically where Shandong are currently languishing in the CSL’s relegation zone.

“Shandong Luneng Football Club has announced the hiring of Felix Magath as the new coach, effective immediately,” a club statement read.

Magath, without a job since leaving English Championship side Fulham FC in 2014, also expressed his satisfaction at the appointment via his personal Facebook page.

“I am looking forward to the job, my new club and the staff and players,” said the 62-year-old, who won two Bundesliga titles while coaching Bayern Munich and one with VfL Wolfsburg.

Magath had a successful playing career, playing for home town club Viktoria Aschaffenburg, 1.FC Saarbrücken and be known for his stint with Hamburger SV.

Over the years he coached at Hamburger SV, 1.FC Nürnberg, Werder Bremen, Eintracht Frankfurt, VfB Stuttgart, Bayern Munich, VfL Wolfsburg (twice), FC Schalke 04 before moving abroad for the first time in 2014 to join then struggling Fulham FC in the Premiership. Shandong Luneng is his second coaching assignment abroad.

“I am very interested in the great awakening of Chinese football and I am delighted at the prospect of the upcoming task,” he added.

Magath’s first game in charge of Shandong is expected to be on Sunday, June 12 when they face high flying Hebei China Fortune in a key CSL fixture for both sides.

About Arunava Chaudhuri

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