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Jordi Cruyff named as Chongqing Lifan coach after Paulo Bento sacking

Jordi Cruyff coached Maccabi Tel Aviv for a spell last season. David Aliaga/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Jordi Cruyff has been named as the new head coach of Chinese Super League side Chongqing Lifan.

Former Netherlands international Cruyff succeeds ex-Portugal coach Paulo Bento, who was fired last month as Chongqing slipped towards the relegation zone.

The 44-year-old ex-Barcelona and Manchester United winger previously worked as sporting director with AEK Larnaca in Cyprus and Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv, who he also coached for a short spell last season.

Chongqing are 14th place in the table, and Cruyff's first game in charge is against second-placed Shandong Luneng on Saturday.