THREE days after guiding China to an unexpected spot in the final round of Asia’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers, interim coach Gao Hongbo was formally named head coach of the national team, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) said Friday.

    Gao will take the helm for China’s next World Cup qualifiers. “Under the interim spell of Gao, the team’s spirit has underwent positive changes, Gao’s ability won the trust and praises from the players and experts group,” said CFA in a statement.

    Gao, who coached the Chinese national team between 2009 and 2011, was named as the coach of China on an interim basis in February to guide the team for the last two rounds of Asian Zone preliminary qualifiers, following the departure of Frenchman Alain Perrin

    Hired in February 2015 after a lengthy search to replace Spaniard Jose Antonio Camacho, former Lyon boss Perrin left over what the CFA said were concerns over his ability to deliver what China’s needs to qualify for the World Cup along with the team’s future development.

    A series of foreign coaches has been hired in hopes of sparking improvement, including England’s Bobby Houghton, Dutchman Arie Haan and Serbia’s Bora Milutinovic, who took the team to the 2002 World Cup.

    (SD-Xinhua)