Branko Ivanković (foto: Getty Images)
Branko Ivanković is out as China's head coach after World Cup qualifying failure. Serbian U-19 boss Dejan Đurđević takes over as interim manager.
Branko Ivanković’s tenure as head coach of China’s national team has officially come to an end following the country’s latest failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. The Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced on Friday that the 71-year-old Croatian coach has been dismissed after a disastrous run in the qualifiers for the 2026 tournament.
Under Ivanković, China managed just four wins, two draws and eight defeats in 14 matches. Their campaign ended with the team finishing fifth out of six teams in their group, missing out on progression to the fourth and final round of Asian qualifying.
“As the Chinese men’s national team failed to advance to the next round of the World Cup qualifiers, the contract with the head coach and his staff has been automatically terminated in accordance with the original terms,” read the official CFA statement.
Ivanković had taken charge in February 2023, following a relatively successful four-year stint with Oman, which included a strong showing at the 2023 Asian Cup. He also had two previous spells with Iran, and was one of the more experienced figures in Asian football management.
Despite hopes that his experience would steer China back to the World Cup stage for the first time since 2002, the campaign turned out to be another disappointment for the world's most populous country.
The Chinese FA has appointed Serbian coach Dejan Đurđević, currently in charge of the U-19 national team, as interim head coach. Đurđević will lead the side while the federation searches for a permanent replacement.