Evergrande FC dominance in China will continue

Marcello Lippi has decided to make a change on his career as a head coach. The Italian waited till the final whistle of his Guangzhou Evergrande side's title-securing draw on Sunday. 

It was his third Chinese Super League (CSL) crown since moving to South China in 2012 and the club's fourth championship in a row. Lippi also found the time to swell - Evergrande's trophy cabinet with a Chinese FA Cup and the Holy Grail for Chinese sides, the Asian Champions League. Not too shabby for a 66-year-old who has claimed that he's "too old" and needs more time to spend with his family at home. 

Although Lipi is not leaving his job as the chief coach, this is still a good time to look at the Evergrande club. So how is Guangzhou Evergrande doing, a team known as the Manchester United of Asia? Let's look at a comparison with their namesake when Sir Alex Ferguson departed the Old Trafford dugout. 

Evergrande's squad is not in the same depleted state, and there is little need to spend as drastically to keep up with their rivals. Despite losing four games during the 30 rounds of CSL action, a remarkable three more than last year, this is not a side on the wane.

The roster includes many of the Chinese national side, which means the best players in the league given its limit on foreigners, mixed with some of the country's more successful foreign imports. Alessandro Diamanti and Alberto Gilardino are former Italy internationals, while ¬striker Elkeson makes up for his shortcoming as a household name with goals, and lots, of them. The Brazilian netted 28 times in his 28 games.

Evergrande might not need to spend but they likely will. If previous off-seasons are anything to go by, they will play on their status as the biggest team in China and add the best young Chinese players, and in turn swell their Chelsea-esque list of loanees. Their finances make them the biggest club off the pitch and that allows them to dominate on it.

Lippi’s new helper, Evergrande’s new executive coach, is his World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro. The younger Italian is a former defender who captained Lippi's Azzuri team to his most successful coaching triumph and strengthens the Italian presence in Guangzhou. Cannavaro is essentially Lippi continued. His own playing career also demands respect.

Evergrande must be favorites to continue their stranglehold on the Chinese title. Perhaps they should be compared to one of Cannavaro's former teams and be seen as the Real Madrid of Asia. With domestic dominance assured, it's time to replicate the Spaniards' continental conquests.