Branko Ivanković and the End of China’s Football Dream: 16 Months, 14 Games, Only 4 Wins!
Who would have thought that legendary Croatian coach Branko Ivanković would end his tenure in China as a complete flop? Well, it’s official now – after just 16 months and 14 games, with only four wins, two draws, and eight losses, Ivanković has been fired! The Chinese Football Association couldn’t tolerate failure and decided to terminate the contract with the 71-year-old expert.
China’s National Team Still Missing the World Cup
China, the most populous country in the world, will once again miss the World Cup. Under Ivanković’s leadership, the team finished second to last in their qualifying group, in fifth place, and failed to advance to the fourth round of qualifications. This is another blow to Chinese football, which has only appeared once at the World Cup, back in 2002.
Ivanković’s Journey in China – From Hope to Disappointment
Before coming to China, Ivanković had success with Oman and Iran, but in China, he failed to transfer his experience. His record of four wins in 14 games is far from expectations. The Chinese association immediately activated the contract termination clause, meaning the cooperation ended without further complications.
Who’s Next?
Serbian Dejan Stanković, who previously coached China’s U19 team, has been appointed as the new head coach. Will he succeed where Ivanković failed? Chinese football is in crisis, and the new coach has a tough task to lift the team and finally lead them to the World Cup.
What Happened to Ivanković?
Branko Ivanković is known as a coach who can lead national teams and clubs, but in China, he clearly hit a wall. His adventure in China lasted only 16 months, and the result was disappointing. Is the problem with him, or is Chinese football simply not ready for big success?
Chinese Football – Dream or Nightmare?
In recent years, China has invested huge sums in football, bringing in big stars and coaches, but results are missing. Obviously, money isn’t everything. Chinese football is still far from the world’s top level, and Ivanković’s departure is just another proof that things aren’t working.
Conclusion
Branko Ivanković ended his China chapter with more questions than answers. With only four wins in 14 games, it’s clear that Chinese football is in trouble. Will new coach Dejan Stanković manage to change things? Or will China continue dreaming of the World Cup from afar?
If you have your own take on Ivanković and Chinese football, or think this is just the start of bigger problems, feel free to drop a comment. Who knows, maybe your theory will be the next big football drama!
Quick Stats:
- 16 months as China’s coach
- 14 games
- 4 wins
- 2 draws
- 8 losses
- China failed to reach the fourth round of World Cup qualifiers
Chinese football is in chaos, and Ivanković is just another coach who fell in this battle. Will we see China at the World Cup anytime soon? For now, the answer is clear – no!
And hey, if you thought this was the end of Ivanković’s career, remember – he’s already coached Oman and Iran, so who knows where he’ll pop up next. But one thing’s for sure – he left a mark in China, just not the one he wanted.
