SIPG set to unveil new top officials
Just 10 days ahead of its Chinese FA Cup final against local rival Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, Shanghai SIPG has announced plans for a minor shake-up in its management structure.
The Chinese Super League club is expected to unveil a new president and some management-level officials, SIPG said on Thursday.
The club president's post has been vacant for a while, with general manager Sui Guoyang, a former official of the Shanghai Football Association, managing club affairs, including the signing of foreign and domestic players since the Shanghai International Port Group took over the club at the end of 2014.
According to SIPG’s official statement issued on Thursday, it will make an official announcement about the new president and some management-level officials soon.
Under the guidance of former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas, SIPG has had a promising season this year. But the team is yet to complete its goal of winning at least one championship from the three battlefields of the CSL, AFC Champions League and the CFA Cup.
After finishing as runner-up in this year’s CSL to defending champion Guangzhou Evergrande and being eliminated from the Asian league by Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds in the semifinals, the CFA Cup remains SIPG’s last chance for glory. AVB’s team takes on city rival Shenhua in a two-legged final, with the first leg at Hongkou Football Stadium on November 19. The second leg will be played at SIPG's home Shanghai Stadium on November 26.
A report in thepaper.cn suggested that former SIPG captain Sun Xiang is likely to become the club's vice general manager in the shake-up.
Shanghai SIPG club general manager Sui Guoyang (right) and former captain Sun Xiang
Sun has been out of sight for over a year due to illness, but is said to be recovering well.
He has been under pressure since colliding with Shenhua striker Demba Ba in a derby match in July last year. Ba suffered tibia and fibula fracture in his left leg in the incident and later had season-ending surgery in Shanghai.
Shenhua finished 11th in the 16-team CSL standing this year, its worst showing in the past six years.
