CSL
Quique Sánchez appointed Shanghai Shenhua coach
The Spaniard has coached the likes of Watford, Benfica and Atlético Madrid.
Shanghai Shenhua appointed Quique Sánchez as its new head coach on Tuesday, with the Spaniard arriving in the Chinese city on Friday to start preparing the team for the new season beginning on 1 March, 2019.
The Chinese Super League (CSL) club issued the following statement welcoming Sánchez and his coaching team: “We hope they will get familiar with the team as soon as possible through winter training, instil their football techniques and tactics in the players and help the young players in the team grow faster.”
The Spaniard, who has coached the likes of Watford, Benfica and Atlético Madrid, was sacked by LaLiga team Espanyol in April after nearly two years in charge. He had not worked since then.
Tough task
The former Real Madrid and Spain defender will be tasked with improving Shenhua’s fortunes after they finished seventh in the CSL last season, 30 points behind winners and local rivals Shanghai SIPG.
Sánchez will bring a strong backroom team to China, including assistant coaches Antonio Díaz and Dean Austin.
Shaghai Shenhua has previously been managed by coaches like Gus Poyet, Nicolas Anelka and Howard Wilkinson.