CHINA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Coach Sergio Batista arrives in Shanghai as he looks set to sign up to become the new head coach of Shanghai Shenhua Football Club

Record ID: 593342

  • Title: CHINA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Coach Sergio Batista arrives in Shanghai as he looks set to sign up to become the new head coach of Shanghai Shenhua Football Club
  • Date: 26th May 2012
  • Summary: SHANGHAI, CHINA (MAY 25, 2012) (REUTERS) ***BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS AREA AT SHANGHAI PUDONG AIRPORT ELECTRONIC BOARD SHOWING LUFTHANSA FLIGHT LH728 CARRYING ARGENTINE COACH SERGIO BATISTA BATISTA (WITH STRIPED TIE) WALKING OUT OF ARRIVALS AREA BATISTA WALKING PAST PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PHOTOS OF BATISTA BATISTA NODDING WHEN ASKED WHETHER HE IS HERE TO COACH SHANGHAI SHENHUA FOOTBALL CLUB (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) MA YUE, SPOKESPERSON FOR SHANGHAI SHENHUA FOOTBALL CLUB, SAYING: "I do not know for now (when Batista will sign the contract). They have been flying for more than 30 hours. We have to let them rest in the hotel and as for the final details in the contract, I think we have to discuss it tonight." PHOTOGRAPHERS CHASING BATISTA BATISTA WITH LUGGAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) MA YUE, SPOKESPERSON FOR SHANGHAI SHENHUA FOOTBALL CLUB, SAYING: "I don't think he will (take charge of training) for now. For these two days, we will bring him to the club's headquarters and training ground to get him familiar with the facilities as well as the players. He would also need to take a look at videos of the team as well as learn about the statistics regarding each player." BATISTA WALKING PAST BATISTA SHAKING HANDS WITH MA YUE
  • Embargoed: 10th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA31NDCWMVJOJSJ01AUMOKUX4T9
  • Story Text: Former Argentina coach Sergio Batista has arrived in Shanghai on Friday (May 25) morning as he looks set to sign to become the head coach of local Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.
    Batista landed at Shanghai's Pudong Airport for talks with Chinese soccer club Shanghai Shenhua about becoming their new boss.
    When asked by Reuters whether he was in town to sign for the club as their manager, the 49-year-old simply nodded.
    The club's spokesperson Ma Yue greeted Batista at the airport and said they were just ironing out some details and the contract was close to being signed.
    Big-spending Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, have been on the lookout to replace sacked manager Jean Tigana in April after a dismal start to the season.
    "I do not know for now (when Batista will sign the contract). They have been flying for more than 30 hours. We have to let them rest in the hotel and as for the final details in the contract, I think we have to discuss it tonight," he told reporters at the airport.
    A successful swoop for Batista would come after 2006 World Cup-winning Italian coach Marcello Lippi took charge of rivals Guangzhou Evergrande last week.
    Ma said Batista would not be ready to take charge for this Sunday's Chinese Super League game at home to Guizhou Renhe, and would also not be taking charge of training so soon.
    "I don't think he will (take charge of training) for now. For these two days, we will bring him to the club's headquarters and training ground to get him familiar with the facilities as well as the players. He would also need to take a look at videos of the team as well as learn about the statistics regarding each player," he said.
    One of Batista's party, who did not give his name but identified himself as the Argentine's manager, said Batista is set to sign a formal contract on Saturday (May 26).
    Batista coached Argentina to Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games before replacing Diego Maradona as the coach of the national side.
    He was sacked after only a year following Argentina's failure to end an 18-year wait for a major title at the 2011 Copa America.
    Shanghai fired Frenchman Tigana after a poor start to the season, replacing him with interim coach Jean-Florent Ibenge.
    With Chinese clubs enjoying a boom with heavy financial investment, instant results are expected.
    League leaders Guangzhou Evergrande sacked Lee Jang-soo last week and replaced him with former World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi despite the South Korean winning the Chinese league title last year and getting them through to the last 16 of the Asian Champions League.
    Shenhua's player-coach Nicolas Anelka had said at a news conference on Thursday (May 24) there would be a problem if the Chinese club replaced him with former Argentina boss Sergio Batista.
    Much was expected of Anelka when he signed a two-year deal worth a reported $300,000 a week with Shanghai in December, but the club has struggled this year and sit in 14th place in the 16-team league, one point and place above the relegation zone after 11 games.
    The much-travelled former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Fenerbahce striker has scored just two goals this season and took on coaching responsibilities last month when his compatriot, former France international Tigana, was sacked after four months in charge.
    Shanghai continues to be linked with Anelka's former team mate and Champions League final goalscorer and match-winner Didier Drogba, who announced earlier this week he was leaving Chelsea.
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