WFootball: Shanghai Love Anelka
 

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BBC Sport 12 April 2012 Last updated at 17:06 GMT




Nicolas Anelka confirmed as Shanghai Shenhua player-boss

By Ben Smith BBC Sport



Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has confirmed his appointment as player-manager of ambitious Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.

Shenhua moved to replace ex-boss Jean Tigana following a poor run of results.

"It's official. I've just become the new player-manager of Shanghai Shenhua," Anelka tweeted.

Zhu Jun, the chief executive of Shanghai Shenhua, is hopeful Anelka's contacts in the game will help him attract other big names to the club.
ANELKA'S CAREER

* 1996-97: PSG
* 1997-99: Arsenal (£0.5m)
* 1999-00: Real Madrid (£22.3m)
* 2000-02: PSG (£22m)
* 2001-02: Liverpool (loan)
* 2002-05: Man City (£12m)
* 2005-06: Fenerbahce (£7m)
* 2006-08: Bolton (£8m)
* 2008-12: Chelsea (£15m)
* 2012- Shanghai Shenhua

The 33-year-old, who oversaw his first training session on Thursday, has been allowed to bring in three coaches, including his assistant Baptiste Gentili and former Tottenham goalkeeper Ian Walker, who he played alongside at Bolton.

It is thought he will initially take charge until the end of season after succeeding former Fulham manager Tigana, with his first match at home to Tianjin Teda on Friday.

The appointment of Anelka, who signed a two-year deal with Shenhua in December, represents the player's first move into coaching.

He will be tasked with arresting a slump in form that has left Shenhua in the bottom five of the Chinese league after five matches.

Shenhua have already signed Brazilian forwards Cleo and Muriqui in a bid to bolster their squad, while reports linking Chelsea striker Didier Drogba with a move to Shanghai are likely to gather momentum.

Drogba's contract at Stamford Bridge expires next summer and talks over an extension are deadlocked.

The Ivory Coast forward has asked for a new two-year deal, but Chelsea are only willing to offer the 33-year-old an additional 12 months and no further meetings are planned.

Drogba has attracted interest from all over the world, including Los Angeles Galaxy and Anzhi Makhachkala, of Russia, but Shenhua are expected to be the first to make a formal approach.