Fabio Cannavaro will return to China to coach Tianjin Quanjian FC, the official Xinhua news agency said Tuesday on its Twitter account.

The former Italy defender, who captained his country to World Cup victory in 2006, has already got Chinese experience under his belt following a one-year stint as coach of Guangzhou Evergrande that ended last summer.

He went on to manage Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in Riyadh, but was sacked from his role in February for "bad results" just four months after taking charge.

Cannavaro, who won the Ballon d'Or 10 years ago, had signed a deal to keep him in the Saudi capital until the end of the season, but he left the side 18 points off the top spot and with their title defence in tatters.

Xinhua did not specify when the Italian would begin his new Tianjin post.