Tokyo coach says China moving in right direction

Influx of foreign coaches and players can only help game here, claims Serbian Popovic

Introducing top international coaches and players to the Chinese Super League will help improve China's soccer development, Ranko Popovic said.

"China will learn quickly and reach a better position in the world soccer after introducing more international coaches and players," said the head coach of J-League club FC Tokyo after it was knocked out of the AFC Champions League by Guangzhou Evergrande on Wednesday.

"The potential is very great for China since a growing number Chinese clubs have turned their eyes to top international names. The country now has to quickly learn from the experience of the international coaches and players," Popovic told China Daily.

Currently, the Chinese domestic league has 13 foreign coaches among its 16 clubs, with some top international names including World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi and former Argentine national coach Sergio Batista at the forefront.

Lippi, 64, replaced South Korean Lee Jang-soo in May to take the managerial position with big-spending Guangzhou Evergrande and Batista signed an annual 1.5 million euro ($1.86 million) contract with Shanghai Shenhua on Wednesday.

"In other sports, China has reached the top level in the world. But you know it has lagged behind in soccer over the past few decades," he said.

The 45-year-old said China's efforts to develop soccer over the past few years were similar to what happened in Japan two decades ago.

"What's happening now is like what occurred in Japan 20 years ago. It is the same approach. And now you know that Japan is capable of competing against top international teams," he said.

The Serbian international moved to the J-League in July 2009 to coach Oita Trinita, where he experienced 14 consecutive defeats in his first season.

After spending two years with Oita Trinita and another year with Machida Zelvia, he accepted an offer from FC Tokyo this season.

"Soccer is not all about money. I am now happy with the club and my players are very promising. If they keep the momentum they showed against the Guangzhou team, they will advance further in the domestic league and next season's AFC Champions League," he said.

"I hope we can still compete in the AFC Champions League next year. And I do hope to play against Guangzhou Evergrande again.

"I don't know what will happen in the future. For now, I am very satisfied in Tokyo," said Popovic, when asked about the possibility of him making a move to China.

qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn