Former AC Milan head coach and midfielder Clarence Seedorf was named as the new manager of China second division association football squad Shenzhen FC.

The 40-year-old Dutch mentor, who is also a former Ajax, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan midfielder, returned to football as he was appointed as the new head coach of the China League One side on Thursday. His last connection with the sport was back 2014, during a five-month stint as the manager of I Rossoneri from January to June of that year.

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It was also his only experience managing a football club so far after an illustrious 22-year senior career that saw him win two Eredivisie titles, one La Liga trophy, and two Italian Serie A championships together with three UEFA Champions League titles for three different teams - Ajax, Real, and Milan.

He was also included in the AC Milan Hall of Fame, Real Madrid Team of the Century, and was honored with the UEFA Best Midfielder Award during the 2006-2007 season.

"Due to the club's failure to meet expectations in the first half of the season, Shenzhen FC has determined to make adjustments to its coaching staff," the club said in an official statement, as per SkySports.

"Effective on July 7, the club is hiring Mr. Clarence Seedorf as the head coach of Shenzhen FC, replacing Mr. Tang Yaodong. We are sincerely grateful for the contributions that Mr. Tang Yaodong and other members of the coaching staff have made to the club's progress and development," the statement said.

"We believe Mr. Seedorf, with his rich experience in international competitions and advanced methods in football, will lead Shenzhen FC into a new milestone," it added.

Seedorf took over from former Shenzhen coach Tang Yaodong with the club presently at the eighth spot of the 16-team China League One table, China.org reported.

With 14 matches left in the season, the team is only six points below second-running team Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng in the domestic second division's tight overall standings and so they have more than ample time to climb the table and get promoted to the Chinese Super League next season.

TagsChina Football, China football 2016, China Football News, Clarence Seedorf, china league one, Shenzhen FC