One of Asia's "most cashed-up clubs," Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua, wants Australia Manager Ange Postecoglou "to take over as head coach," presuming he "quits the national team next month," according to Tom Smithies of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. Shanghai Shenhua is "believed to have prepared a contract" worth $3M a year to tempt Postecoglou, who told his bosses at Football Federation Australia that he "intends to step down" after the World Cup playoff against Honduras next month. It would be a "high-profile move" for Postecoglou to coach a squad that includes former ManU player Carlos Tevez, who is reported to earn more than A$1M ($790,000) a week. Shanghai Shenhua is "notoriously fickle over its coaches and has a reputation" for not honoring contracts. Former Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic previously rejected a contract worth A$20M over several seasons from Shenhua over a "perceived lack of control in football matters." Whether Postecoglou -- who remains contracted to FFA "until next month at least, having not yet resigned -- will be tempted by the move remains to be seen" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 10/16).
MASS EXODUS?: In Sydney, Ray Gatt reported FFA will "likely have to come up with an entirely new Socceroos coaching staff" if Postecoglou leaves the national team. Though he is "expected to be the target" of an offer from Shanghai Shenhua, he reportedly "has his heart set on a position in Europe." If that happens, Postecoglou "is expected to take his assistant coaches Ante Milicic and Peter Cklamosvki with him, leaving a massive hole for FFA to fill" going into the World Cup, if Australia makes it. Milicic "has been touted" as a replacement for Postecoglou at the Socceroos and also for A-League club Western Sydney. However, "it is understood Milicic, who is based in Croatia with his family, has told the Wanderers he is not interested in the job" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 10/17).
