England's Wilkinson touted for China job

BEIJING, July 14 (Reuters) China has set its sights on former England manager Howard Wilkinson to lead the national team at the 2008 Olympics and through the 2010 World Cup, a Hong Kong newspaper reported today.

Wilkinson, who previously coached Shanghai Shenhua, had been approached by senior Chinese Football Association (CFA) officials, the South China Morning Post said.

''We approached Mr Wilkinson about the head coach position two weeks or so ago,'' the paper quoted Wong Yingquan, general manager of CFA's marketing arm Infront China, as saying.

''We have narrowed down the selection to three foreign coaches and we will announce our decision within the next two or three weeks, maybe sooner''.

Speculation in Chinese media suggest Frenchman Philippe Troussier and Dutchman Wim van Hanegem are the other two names on the list.

Chinese officials made several trips to Europe during the World Cup finals to interview candidates.

Today, Chinese newspaper Sanqin Daily quoted a CFA official as saying Wilkinson was on the list and that contact had been made in Europe.

Wilkinson, who led Leeds United to the English championship in 1992, would be the third journeyman to coach the national team, which failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.

Serbian Bora Milutinovic took China to the World Cup in 2002 -- marking the fifth national team he steered to qualification -- but quit after they lost all their group matches and failed to score a single goal.

Dutchman Arie Haan was fired after China failed to qualify for Germany 2006.

REUTERS PM VA RK1055