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| Petrovic leaves China |
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| Vladimir Petrovic left China with mixed emotions. |
BEIJING – Vladimir Petrovic’s tenure as head coach of the Chinese national team has ended after the China Football Association (CFA) opted not to renew the contract of the 58-year-old Serb.
Petrovic, who was named the Chinese league’s coach of the year in 2005 after leading Dalian Shide to the league and cup double, left Beijing on Friday lamenting the fact that he was unable to guide China to the final round of 2010 World Cup qualifiers and that he didn’t have sufficient time to make an impact with the 2004 AFC Asian Cup runners-up.
“I won’t forget the time I have spent coaching in China,” the Red Star Belgrade legend told reporters before his departure.
“Elimination from the World Cup left me very sad but I have had many (positive) emotions which I appreciate.
“The time I have had here was too short to change anything and maybe I could have done better if I had enough time.”
Petrovic’s contract ran until July 3, the day of the AFC Asian Cup 2011 qualifying draw, where China were placed in Group D along with Syria, Lebanon, and Vietnam.
No announcement was made on Petrovic’s replacement although China Olympic coach Ratomir Dujkovic has been linked with the post.
China’s quest for a place at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup begins on the road when they take on Syria on January 14, 2009.
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