BaysideMariner
Well-Known Member
Central Coast Mariners today confirms that foundation Head Coach, Lawrie McKinna, has signed a one-year deal to manage Chongqing Lifan FC in China’s League One.
After a spell coaching Chengdu Blades in the Chinese Super League earlier this year, McKinna recently returned to the Mariners working successfully on a part-time basis across a number of the club’s platforms including marketing and football operations.
However, with a desire to coach on a full-time basis again and a sense of unfinished business in Chinese football, McKinna has opted to take up Chongqing’s attractive offer and guide the men from the Chongqing Olympic Sports Center in 2012.
“I really enjoyed my experience living in China and Chongqing Lifan have given me a fantastic opportunity to finish what I started with Chengdu,” McKinna said.
“I have been enjoying my new role with the Mariners but Chongqing put together an appealing proposal that first and foremost gave me the opportunity to coach again.”
In a major positive for the Mariners, McKinna’s services will not be lost to the club. In fact, McKinna has already been retained for the club’s 2012 Asian Champions League (ACL) campaign.
In liaison with Central Coast Mariners coaching and support staff, McKinna will work in a consultancy capacity in order to provide first hand information on the Mariners’ ACL opponents.
Additionally, the Mariners and McKinna have agreed that the club will have first right of his services when he returns from his second stint in Chinese football.
McKinna said he would be keeping a close eye on the Mariners Hyundai A-League fortunes as the season progressed.
“I wish the lads, Graham Arnold and the club well – they are doing fantastic at the moment,” he said. “I hope the fans continue to get behind the team and you can be sure I will be following the matches and news as much as I can from China.”
China’s League One is the second division of professional football in China. The top two teams from League One are automatically promoted to the Chinese Super League.
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/centralcoastmariners/news-display/Likeable-Lawrie-pursuing-unfinished-Chinese-business/43195
Central Coast Mariners today confirms that foundation Head Coach, Lawrie McKinna, has signed a one-year deal to manage Chongqing Lifan FC in China’s League One.
After a spell coaching Chengdu Blades in the Chinese Super League earlier this year, McKinna recently returned to the Mariners working successfully on a part-time basis across a number of the club’s platforms including marketing and football operations.
However, with a desire to coach on a full-time basis again and a sense of unfinished business in Chinese football, McKinna has opted to take up Chongqing’s attractive offer and guide the men from the Chongqing Olympic Sports Center in 2012.
“I really enjoyed my experience living in China and Chongqing Lifan have given me a fantastic opportunity to finish what I started with Chengdu,” McKinna said.
“I have been enjoying my new role with the Mariners but Chongqing put together an appealing proposal that first and foremost gave me the opportunity to coach again.”
In a major positive for the Mariners, McKinna’s services will not be lost to the club. In fact, McKinna has already been retained for the club’s 2012 Asian Champions League (ACL) campaign.
In liaison with Central Coast Mariners coaching and support staff, McKinna will work in a consultancy capacity in order to provide first hand information on the Mariners’ ACL opponents.
Additionally, the Mariners and McKinna have agreed that the club will have first right of his services when he returns from his second stint in Chinese football.
McKinna said he would be keeping a close eye on the Mariners Hyundai A-League fortunes as the season progressed.
“I wish the lads, Graham Arnold and the club well – they are doing fantastic at the moment,” he said. “I hope the fans continue to get behind the team and you can be sure I will be following the matches and news as much as I can from China.”
China’s League One is the second division of professional football in China. The top two teams from League One are automatically promoted to the Chinese Super League.
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/centralcoastmariners/news-display/Likeable-Lawrie-pursuing-unfinished-Chinese-business/43195
