Manuel Pellegrini Starts A New Project in Shanghai China - Eying Nigeria Youngsters

Cote Rodriguez send us this report from China. "Good Afternoon in Shanghai watching Hebei FC training session.. Manuel Pellegrini is starting to build the new project for the next season... and we are excited with what he's started to do already..."

Chilean manager was hired by Hebei side back in June...
Manuel Pellegrini, the former manager of English Premier League side Manchester City, has started his new project with Chinese Super League club Hebei China Fortune. And his task is to make the modest club one of the most imporyant team in the world.

Using his reputation to attract the right players from Europe, South America and Africa... with hope to spread his tentacles to sort such great young talents in Nigeria, like he did with Kelexhi Iheanaxho... Pellegrini's revolution is expected to be gradual in the next three years at least... and Rodriguez can recommend some of our players.

"It is of note that Gervinho, the Cote d'Ivoire star is already in the team and can be a focual reference for the West Africa style of play." Rodriguez stated.

Rodriguez is a coach/ football teacher with Nike and RSports, also working with Pellegrini in the New project in China.

Rodriguez is a close partner with my friend Todd Wijnsteker, manager of Scouting/ Coaches in China a network that spread across the world... Of which GreenHunters Sports  International associate with here in West Africa.

Pellegrini, who has been signed by China Fortune on a three year deal is here to turn the fortune of the Hebei side. Citing the club's long-term ambitions that fit with his own managerial concepts, Pellegrini said he envisions a bright future for the newly promoted CSL side.


"We know that we have an important challenge and we are sure that we will do our best to make Hebei the most important club in China and in Asia," said Pellegrini, who led City to victory in the Football League Cup and Premier League as the first manager from outside Europe to do so in 2014.


After being replaced by Pep Guardiola in June, the 62-year-old received multiple job offers from other top European sides but the game's untapped potential in China was the more attractive option.

"It's a very attractive challenge here in Asia because I already worked 20 years in South America and 20 years in Europe. I had a lot of different options that may be from more important leagues. But I don't think they were more attractive than this project and this goal to be one of the most important clubs in Asia. That's the reason why I came," said Pellegrini, who started his managerial career with Universidad de Chile in 1988.


"We know that the Chinese league is growing and we would like to be part of it ... the most important thing is that China as a country wants to grow football by bringing very good players and different mangers. We want to contribute to this progress."
The arrival of the Chilean reflects the new foreign focus of big-spending CSL clubs, which have already attracted high profile coaches such as former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and ex-Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.


Pellegrini's resume includes a short stint with Spanish La Liga giant Real Madrid in the 2009-2010 season, during which he steered the team to amass a then club record 96 points, only losing the league title to Barcelona by three points.


However, it was Pellegrini's competence in growing small-market and young teams rapidly, highlighted by his tenure with La Liga sides Villarreal and Malaga, that appealed to the Hebei side.


"Pellegrini and his team will also be involved in the design and development of our club's youth cultivation system. As a young team we are keen to establish our own identity which we would like to build based on his attacking football style," said Ye Jun, chairman of the club.


In the first season with Pellegrini at the helm, Villarreal moved up five spots to finish third in La Liga in 2005 and reached the Champions League semifinals one year later. He also led low-profile side Malaga to the Champions League quarterfinals on the club's debut season in 2013.

Currently ranked fifth in the CSL, China Fortune is still holding out for chance to qualify for next season's AFC Champions League, but the club is also looking ahead to a year of rejuvenation under Pellegrini starting from 2017.


"Starting from next year, we will fight for higher goals than just maintaining our CSL appearance under manager Pellegrini. Hopefully, we can win the league and become continental champions in as few as five years," said Ye.