• ‘I think there are many chances, Chinese clubs would love to sign him’ • Clubs’ representative says Hodgson has right kind of profile for country

Roy Hodgson is a sought-after coach in China, according to the main sports agency behind the boom in the Chinese Super League.

The 68-year-old resigned from his role as England manager on Monday following defeat to Iceland which saw the team dumped out of Euro 2016. But Eric Gao, the chief executive of Irena, a company which represents 12 Super League clubs, has already offered the former Liverpool and Fulham manager a potential return to management.

“Lots of clubs want a world-class football manager,” he said when asked if Hodgson would be a coach who could be an attractive proposition for Chinese clubs. I heard a lot of managers are not for sale here [in England] right now. I think there are many chances [for Hodgson], they would love to sign him.”

An increase in government interest at improving the standard of football throughout China has led to some teams spending heavily to sign the best players from across the globe. The likes of Alex Teixeira, Jackson Martínez and Ramires have already moved to Super League clubs, while the Zenit St Petersburg striker Hulk is also reportedly on the verge of a big-money deal to join Shanghai SIPG – a club managed by another former England manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The former Brazil and Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is in charge of Guangzhou Evergrande and Gao reckons there is also room for Hodgson in the league.

“Yes. He has the kind of profile that will fit a Chinese Super League club,” Gao added. “I know a number of clubs who are wanting international investors to be their shareholders as well, something will happen very soon. They want to change the DNA of football, they want to get worldwide investment, bring the brand, the coach, the football manager and players systematically, not one by one but group by group.”

Hodgson has been widely derided for overseeing England’s exit from the European Championship at the last-16 stage after also presiding over a group-stage exit at the World Cup in Brazil two years ago.