Former Argentina national football team coach Marcelo Bielsa and Brazilian football great Zico are among the contenders for the vacant Chinese national football coach post.

According to Xinhua, at midnight on Friday was the deadline for applications and sources close to the Chinese Football Association (CFA) claim that about 50 aspirants have joined the race with 90 percent of them from abroad.

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Zico, Bielsa and former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli are on the list which also includes former Portugal coach Paulo Bento, former Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli and coach Walter Mazzarri of Inter Milan.

Arturo Antunes Coimbra, better known as Zico, is often called the "White Pele." He is considered one of the most skilled finishers and excellent passers ever. Zico, as a coach, is a veteran of of many competitions. He used to manage the Japanese professional football club Kashima Antlers, the Brazilian football team as well as Turkey's CFZ and Fenerbahce.

The Brazilian coach was also hired by Bunyodkor of the Uzbek League,  Russian Premier Legue club CSKA Moskow and Greek professional football side Olympiacos.He also had stints with the National team of Iraq, Qatar's Al-Gharafa and with India Super League side FC Goa.

Marcel Bielsa has managed the national squad of Argentina and other football clubs in different leagues. He also coached the National football team of Chile. Bielsa previously managed Newell's Old Boys club, Mexican clubs Atlas and the America, Velez Sarsfield in Argentina, as well as Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao in Spain.

Former China coach Gao Hongbo recently declared his intention to run for the job after Frenchman Alain Perrin was sacked by CFA on Jan. 8.

TagsMarcelo Bielsa, Zico, Gao Hongbo