Nicolas Anelka loses first match as Shanghai Shenhua player-boss
Nicolas Anelka has
lost his first match as player-manager of Chinese Super League side
Shanghai Shenhua following his appointment on Thursday.
The former Chelsea striker,
who moved to Shenhua in January,
saw his side lose 1-0 at home to Tianjin Teda.
The final whistle was greeted with boos
and the defeat leaves Shenhua in the bottom five of the league with four
points from six matches.
Shenhua hope Anelka's contacts will help him attract big names to the club.
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 Jean Tigana.
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.
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