Scolari shortlisted for China coaching job

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil's 2002 World Cup-winning manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is among the frontrunners to take charge of China's national team, according to media reports.

Guangzhou Evergrande's head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari looks at his players before their Club World Cup third-place soccer match against Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan, December 20, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

The 67-year-old has been shortlisted alongside Italy's 2006 World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi and former Atletico Madrid manager Gregorio Manzano, Brazil's Gazeta Esportiva news portal reported on Sunday.

The position has been made vacant by the sacking of Frenchman Alain Perrin in early January following a poor run of results.

Scolari has enjoyed instant success after being appointed manager of Chinese Super League outfit Guangzhou Evergrande in June.

Under the Brazilian's stewardship, Evergrande have won the national league title and the Asian Champions League crown as well as securing fourth place at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Despite describing Scolari as one of the "leading candidates" for the China job, the portal described current Shanghai Shenhua coach Manzano as the favorite.

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, who led Shanghai SIPG to second place in last year's Super League standings, is said to have ruled himself out of the running.

China are currently third in their group in the second phase of the Asia confederation's World Cup qualifiers, behind Qatar and Hong Kong, China.