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Former Guam national team manager Gary White joins rush to China with second-tier Shanghai Shenxin

Former Guam coach joins the rush to Chinese football after signing on with second-tier Shanghai Shenxin

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Gary White has joined second tier Chinese side Shanghai Shenxin as manager after a spell with the Guam national team. Photo: Shenxinfc.sh.cn

Former Guam coach Gary White has joined the rush to Chinese football after signing on with second-tier Shanghai Shenxin.

Chinese football is really starting to blossom and it’s an opportunity for coaches like myself to make a statement and to really get your teeth into a league which is becoming very competitive
Gary White

White steered tiny Guam to the final round of Asian Cup qualifiers, recording victories against Turkmenistan and India, a country of 1.2 billion, along the way.

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“The timing to go to China I think is perfect,” White said.

“Chinese football is really starting to blossom and it’s an opportunity for coaches like myself to make a statement and to really get your teeth into a league which is becoming very competitive.”

Encouraged by president Xi Jinping, Chinese football is attracting large-scale investment from the country’s cash-rich businesses, creating a sudden influx of foreign talent.

White said he had high hopes of winning promotion with Shenxin, who stand to become the Chinese Super League’s third Shanghai team alongside Shanghai SIPG and Shanghai Shenhua.

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White, a former player for non-league English side Bognor Regis, once faxed every national association in the world looking for coaching work.

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