Guangzhou Evergrande striker Muriqui said World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi would be a "great" coach for China's national team when he moves on from the reigning Asian club champions.
The prolific Brazilian, speaking after being named as Asia's top foreign player of the year at an awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, said he had no doubt Lippi could boost stuttering China.
China are currently searching for a permanent coach after they dismissed ex-Spain and Real Madrid manager Jose Antonio Camacho following a disappointing run of results.
"I think he (Lippi) is a wonderful coach. He helped our team a lot and he helped Chinese football also," said Muriqui, who top-scored with 13 goals during Guangzhou's victorious AFC Champions League campaign.
"Of course if one day he wants to be the coach of the Chinese team, it will be a very great thing and he will help Chinese football even more. I hope one day he will be the Chinese coach."
Lippi's presence at recent China games has fuelled speculation he may be lured away from Guangzhou to lead the national team at the 2015 Asian Cup, presuming they qualify.
Silver-haired Lippi, who led his native Italy to the 2006 World Cup and also won the European Champions League with Juventus, has another year left on his contract with Guangzhou.
China have reached only one World Cup, in 2002, and they have been quiet on the regional stage since losing out to Japan in the 2004 Asian Cup final in Beijing.
Guangzhou's Champions League victory was the first Asian title for a Chinese team in 23 years, but the team is facing upheaval next season with the departure of inspirational midfielder Dario Conca.
Muriqui said he hoped Guangzhou would soon find a replacement for the creative Argentinian, who became one of the world's best-paid players when he made the move to China in 2011.
"Conca is a very good player. We're very sorry that he's leaving and it will make a difference to our team," he said late on Tuesday.
"But I think our team will buy another new player and he can do some important work for our team and we can still do a good job."
Muriqui added that he was confident of poaching another "three or four" goals at next month's Club World Cup, where Guangzhou will represent Asia.
"I'm sure I can, because I already scored more than 10 goals in the Champions League," he said, when asked if he would keep his scoring touch in Morocco.
"Of course – I can score three or four goals in the Club World Cup."
Guangzhou were prominent in the Asian Football Confederation awards, winning best club and also player of the year through their captain Zheng Zhi.
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