China

Former Real Madrid boss Bernd Schuster appointed as Dalian Yifang manager

Former Real Madrid boss Bernd Schuster replaces Ma Li as the manager of Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang, according to reports from Marca.

Newly-promoted Dalian Yifang sacked Ma Li after a dismal run of all three winless league games that leaves them at the bottom of the table. The disastrous 3-0 defeat against Beijing Guoan last week triggered the dismissal of Li, who had so far rejected the idea of resigning.

Marca claimed that Schuster was taking advantage of the international break to fly to China to agree on a deal with the Chinese Super League side. It will be Schuster’s first coaching role since quitting Turkish club Besiktas in March 2011.

Frenchman Laurent Blanc, Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari and Spaniard Jose Antonio Camacho were reportedly among the possible candidates to coach Dalian Yifang.

Former West Germany midfielder Schuster spent most of his professional playing career in La Liga with Barcelona, Real Madrid and then local rivals Atletico Madrid.

The 58-year-old has spent most of his coaching career in Spain, with second division Xerez and top-flight sides Levante and Getafe, before he took over at Real Madrid in 2007.

Despite guiding the team to the second successive league title in 2008, he was sacked midway through the following season.