BEIJING (Reuters) - The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has remained silent amid reports that former Dutch international
midfielder Arie Haan had been chosen as the new head coach of the national team.
'We don't know where these reports are coming from,' an association spokesman said, declining to give details of the candidates
for the job or progress of the talks. 'Up to now, nothing is fixed.'
The Beijing Evening News website quoted Chinese Football Association sources as saying Haan had been selected to replace
Bora Milutinovic, who stepped down after China's debut in the finals of the World Cup earlier this year.
The website said the association signed an initial contract with Haan on November 18, picking the former Dutch World Cup player
over at least four other candidates in large part because his salary demands were more 'moderate'.
The popular Chinese portal Sohu.com ran a similar report, quoting a Dutch newspaper. But the official CFA website had no
mention of the search for a coach.
Last week, Haan told a German newspaper talks were at an advanced stage and there were 'only a few details' left to discuss
with the CFA.
Haan, who played for the Netherlands in the finals of the 1974 and 1978 World Cup, was appointed coach of African champions Al
Ahlihas in June.
The 54-year-old has also coached at Austria Vienna, Feyenoord and Greek club PAOK Salonika while in Germany he was coach
at first division clubs VfB Stuttgart and FC Nuremberg.
He left his job as sports director of regional club Stuttgarter Kickers on Monday.
China failed to win a point or score a goal at the World Cup in South Korea and Japan earlier this year, and Yugoslav Milutinovic
stepped down after the tournament.
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