Tigana signs one-year contract with Shenhua
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Shanghai Daily, December 19, 2011
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Tigana debuts as coach of Shanghai Shenhua soccer club at the press conference on December 18, 2011. |
Shanghai Shenhua signed Jean Tigana as the team's head coach for the next Chinese Super League season, the club announced at a press conference last night.
The 56-year-old Frenchman, who resigned as Bordeaux coach in May, signed a one-year contract to become the 16th coach in the team's history.
After signing Tigana's compatriot Nicolas Anelka from Chelsea, Shanghai Shenhua jumped back into the spotlight of Chinese sport and already expectations are building ahead of the 2012 CSL which kicks off in March.
But the new coach preferred to keep a low-profile and did not talk much about his goal in China. "I don't like to talk too much. I prefer working," Tigana said, introducing himself to local media yesterday. "I come to China for work and I believe it will be an exciting experience."
The club did not disclose details about his contract.
"I came here not just for money. I can earn more in England or Turkey," Tigana said. "I'm honored to be the coach of Shenhua."
Tigana said he had been watching recordings of Shenhua's matches as well as the other CSL teams and had prepared a plan for the team.
"There is no miracle in the world and all the achievements come from training," said the legendary French midfielder. "I like the sentence 'step by step' in English and me and my colleagues have already started working."
Besides Anelka, Shenhua has quotas for three more foreign players for the next season and Tigana will pick the candidates.
"We have some targets in the major leagues in Europe and we'll let Tigana choose," said Zhou Jun, director of the club. "They will be in different positions and should be suitable for the team."
Besides foreign players, Shenhua is also planning to sign some talented domestic players, Tigana said.
Shenhua won the league twice - 1995 and 2003. It finished 11th last season.
Tigana, who won the European Championship as a player alongside Michel Platini in 1984, has also managed Olympique Lyon, Monaco, Fulham, and Besiktas.
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