Former China head coach Arie Haan has been linked with a club in Australia's new A-League, the Footballasia.com reported.

Haan, who took over the Chinese national soccer team in December 2002, had his contract terminated after his team was knocked out of the final round of Asian zone 2006 World Cup qualifiers in November.

The 56-year-old Dutchman has been out of work since then but now looks set to coach Sydney FC as they prepare for the inaugural A-League season, according to a report carried by the Asian Football Confederation's website. The club's pre-season training begins in early February.

Haan, who played for Holland at the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, led China to runner-up at last year's Asian Cup.

(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2005)