MARCELLO LIPPI is on the verge of being named the China manager, according to reports in Italy.
The Champions League and World Cup-winning manager has become a hero in the Asian country after his exploits with Guangzhou Evergrande.
He won three successive Chinese Super League titles, an FA Cup and the AFC Champions League in 2013.
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In Canton, there is a new residential area being built — complete with small lakes and football pitches — called ‘Lippi City’.
And Corriere dello Sport report he is due to fly to Beijing to weigh up a massive offer from the Chinese FA.
Lippi recently signed a contract to return to Guangzhou and replace Luiz-Felipe Scolari as manager in January, which would see him earn £18million net per year.
He was recently working for the Italian FA, but is willing to change his plans for a third time — however, it is not in his style to take two jobs at the same time.
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Should he take the prestigious job on offer, Lippi will not only have the difficult task of leading China to the 2018 World Cup in Russia — they currently have one point after four qualifiers and sit bottom of the group following defeats to Syria and Uzbekistan.
But he will need to make the game of football interesting to the 1.5billion people in the country.
The long-term aim is to host the 2030 World Cup and bring the number of participants up to 50million.
In 2013, there were 6,000 football centres opened nationwide and it was introduced on to the primary school curriculum a year later.
The Chinese FA are hoping for around 20,000 participants by next year.
In Lippi, they would be getting a wealth of experience.
The Italian won the Champions League in Juventus’ first-ever season in 1995-96 — and lead the Bianconeri to the three finals.
He was also manager of Inter Milan when they made Christian Vieri the first £30m+ player in 1999 — while his career highlight came in 2006.
Lippi won the World Cup with Italy in Germany — beating the hosts and then France in a dramatic final.
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