Marcello Lippi has agreed a further contract extension with China national team which commits him until 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Despite no official announcement as yet, but the 69-year-old Italian tactician hinted that he principally agreed to stay by three more years.
“My existing contract runs until January 2019 at the completion of the Asian Cup finals,” said Lippi, in an exclusive interview with Chinese newspaper the Chengdu Business Daily.
“It will keep me in charge for the (2022) World Cup qualifiers and I am inclined to accept the offer.
“I’ve still got a year and a couple of months left until my current contract expires, so things may change at any time,” he added.
“But I’ve said yes (to the contract extension). Let’s see what happens over the next few months.”
Lippi became China boss after guiding Guangzhou Evergrande to the three successive Chinese Super League titles from 2012 onwards and became the first Chinese club to win the AFC Champions League in 2013.