Former Serbian soccer coach Aleksandar Janković attends a press conference Wednesday in Haikou, South China’s Hainan province. Photo: VCG

Janković oversees the team’s practice in Haikou on Thursday. Photo: VCG

Marcello Lippi, an Italian soccer manager and former player, was appointed head coach of the China men’s team in October 2016. He resigned in November 2019 after the team lost in a FIFA World Cup qualifier to Syria 1-2. Photo: VCG

Alain Perrin, a professional French soccer team manager and former player, became the team’s head coach in February 2014. In slightly less than two years, China dismissed Perrin as the team failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Photo: VCG

José Antonio Camacho Alfaro, Spanish soccer manager and former player, became the team’s head coach in August 2011. China’s soccer association ended its contract with him in June 2013 after the team lost to Thailand 1-5 in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification campaign. Photo: VCG

In September 2007, Vladimir Petrović (right) was appointed head coach ahead of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers thanks to a recommendation of his friend Ratomir Dujkovic’s. Dujkovic was acting general manager for both the national and Olympic teams at the time. Photo: VCG

Dutch soccer manager Arie Haan stepped in as the national team’s head coach in December 2002. He left the position after the team was eliminated in the 2006 World Cup Asian qualifiers. Photo: VCG

In 2001, Bora Milutinovic (center) became the first coach to lead the team in advancing to the World Cup. The then-57-year-old Serbian stepped down from the position after the World Cup in 2002. Photo: VCG

English soccer manager and former player Bobby Houghton started coaching the national team in late 1997. He left the position in 1999 after it failed to qualify for the 2000 Olympic tournament. Photo: IC Photo

Klaus Schlappner led China’s national team to the semi-finals of the 1992 AFC Asian Cup, though he was dismissed after the team failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup. Photo: IC Photo

József Ember (left) poses for a photo with players from China’s national team in the 1950s. Ember was the first foreign soccer manager to coach Chinese players. Photo: Courtesy of Wikipedia, nemzetisport.hu