Rio de Janeiro, Feb 1 (IANS): Brazil's 2002 World Cup-winning manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is among the front-runners to take charge of China's national football team.

The 67-year-old has been shortlisted alongside Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi and former Atletico Madrid manager Gregorio Manzano, reports Xinhua news agency.

The position has been made vacant by the sacking of Frenchman Alain Perrin in January following a poor run of results.

Scolari has enjoyed instant success after being appointed manager of Chinese Super League (CSL) outfit Guangzhou Evergrande in June.

Under the Brazilian's stewardship, Evergrande have won the national league and the Asian Champions League as well as securing the fourth place at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Though Scolari is one of the "leading candidates" for the China job, current Shanghai Shenhua coach Manzano is also a favourite.

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, who led Shanghai SIPG to second place in last year's CSL standings, is said to have ruled himself out of the running.

China are currently third in their group in the second phase of the Asia confederation's World Cup qualifiers, behind Qatar and Hong Kong.