China's national team soccer coach Zhu Guanghu needs to make the final four of July's Asian Cup. Otherwise, he'll be looking for a job.
"I was told, 'Get to the last four or else,'" Zhu was reported saying in yesterday's China Daily.
China was humiliated 1-0 last week by Thailand in a friendly match, and Zhu said he received the ultimatum shortly after the loss from Xie Yalong, the head of China's soccer association.
Zhu blamed tactical errors for the loss, and the absence of many foreign-based players.
"For the Asian Cup there are going to be changes, whether they be in personnel or tactics," he said. "Certainly there will be no repetition of what happened in Bangkok."
Zhu has been under pressure since taking over in March 2005 for Arie Haan, who was fired after his team failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. China has reached only one World Cup final, but lost all three games and failed to score in the 2002 event.
China is grouped with Malaysia, Iran and Uzbekistan in the group stage of the Asian Cup, which takes place July 7 to July 29 in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The final is on July 29 in Jakarta.
Serbian Ratomir Dujkovic, who coaches China's under-23 Olympic team, is reportedly in line to replace Zhu, particularly if his side wins a medal in next year's Beijing Olympics.
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