Swedish coach Sven-Goran Eriksson shook his head after being asked if he was interested in coaching China's national soccer team.

"No - I was too shocked by China's 1-5 loss to Thailand," said the former England coach on Monday, who has just been appointed head coach of Chinese Super League club Guangzhou R&F.

"But China should find its own way in soccer. Each coach feels pressure after taking a new job.

"In China, it is becoming more challenging," Eriksson said.

China has been putting a huge effort into cleaning up domestic soccer, including the launch of a crackdown on soccer gambling and game fixing.

A number of world-renowned coaches and players, including World Cup winner Marcello Lippi and former Brazilian MVP Dario Conca, have also been introduced in recent years.

"I didn't watch the match (in which China suffered a big loss to Thailand two days ago). But foreign coaches certainly need to quickly get accustomed to local soccer culture so they can be successful in China," he said.

China's head coach Jose Camacho has come under fire after consecutive losses in three international friendly matches recently.

But the hefty 1-5 defeat to Thailand on Saturday in Hefei, capital of Anhui province, has intensified the pressure.

Lack of fighting spirit and poor teamwork have been blamed for what is being described as the country's most humiliating loss in recent years.

In the other two matches within the past month, China lost 2-1 to Uzbekistan and 2-0 to the Netherlands.

Chinese fans chanted "resign, resign" to express their strong resentment of Camacho toward the end of Saturday's match.

Sources with the Chinese Football Association have said the coach's relations with the national team will be discussed this week.

"After nearly two years in charge of China's national soccer team, the Spaniard has not achieved any noteworthy victories. It is time to replace him," said Xie Liang, a veteran soccer commentator with Radio Guangdong.

"A manager, no matter how successful he was in the past, should bring some positive changes to the team," Xie said.

The Italian media speculated recently that Lippi, the current head coach of Guangzhou Evergrande, is considering a future role with the national team after his contract ends next year.

He led Evergande to a successful defense of its Chinese Super League title after taking charge of the team last May.

Lu Yi, deputy chairman of Guangzhou R&F, said foreign coaches have to adapt quickly to China's soccer environment.

"Most foreign managers, even including our former head coach Sergio Farias, have strong coaching abilities. They came with glorious pasts. But they have to learn to adapt quickly if they hope to succeed in China," Lu said.

Brazilian coach Farias, who led the South Korean club Pohang Steelers to the AFC Champions League in 2009, was removed from his coaching position at Guangzhou R&F in May, after poor performances since the start of this season.

"We are hoping that a Swedish coach can be more successful," Lu said.

Lu said that Eriksson's appointment was based strongly on his long-term development plans for the Guangzhou club.

"We contacted other foreign coaches before signing Eriksson. He expressed a strong willingness to improve the club this season.

"Most important, he plans to help us develop a strong team in the future," Lu said.

Eriksson added: "We did not specify any short-term goals in the contract. I will try to bring the team to a higher level this season. We will focus on a long-term strategy - to develop more young Chinese players and bring the team to Asian champions league in the near future."

Before signing a year-and-half contract with Guangzhou R&F early in June, Eriksson had a five-year stint as England coach. He also managed European clubs Fiorentina, Roma, Lazio, Benfica, Manchester City and was former head coach of Mexico and Cote d'Ivoire.

qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 06/18/2013 page5)