FORMER Beijing Guo’an manager Gregorio Manzano has been named as the new coach of Shanghai Greenland Shenhua.

    The 59-year-old Spaniard appeared at a news conference in Shanghai yesterday.

    He spent the last two years with the capital team and was named best head coach of the 2014 Chinese Super League (CSL) season. His knowledge about the Chinese league was one of the main reasons Shenhua made its choice.

    Before coming to China, Manzano had coaching experiences with teams like Valladolid, Racing Santander, Mallorca, Atletico Madrid, and Sevilla. He led Mallorca to Copa del Rey glory in 2002-03.

    Shenhua ended its contract with French manager Francis Gillot in November after the team lost the CFA Cup final to Jiangsu Sainty. Gillot cited family issues in seeking to prematurely end the two-year contract after just one year. Shenhua finished sixth in the 16-team CSL last season on 42 points, while Beijing was fourth on 56, with Guangzhou Evergrande as champion.

    Earlier this month, former Brazil manager Mano Menezes became the latest big-name coach to move to China when he signed with Shandong Luneng.

    Menezes, who won titles with Corinthians and Gremio before leading Brazil between 2010 and 2012, is the third former Brazil coach in China. He joins Guangzhou’s Luiz Felipe Scolari and Vanderlei Luxemburgo at Tianjin Songjiang.

    (SD-Agencies)