The 60-year-old former Korea Republic international is a two-time AFC Champions League winner when he coached Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to Continental glory in 2006 and 2016, as well as six successive K League 1 titles.

Choi has a deep understanding of the Chinese Super League, having managed two other Chinese top-tier teams, Tianjin Quanjian last year, and most recently Dalian Yifang.

The 2016 AFC Coach of the Year, will be tasked to turn the Shanghai-based club around, as they are currently tied with Shenzhen FC and Hebei CF on 12 points, hovering just above the relegation zone.

Luis Sierra, who took over from Slaven Bilic in February, steered the club out of the relegation zone to finish 10th in the domestic league but the Saudi Arabia club have performed especially well on the continental front.

The Tigers advanced into the knockout rounds of the 2019 AFC Champions League when they took second spot in Group B behind United Arab Emirates’ Al Wahda, to book a Round of 16 clash against Zobahan FC.

Head coach Maurice Steijn is using the camp to familiarise himself with the squad, with the Dutchman having taking over from compatriot Hank ten Cate just two weeks ago.

Steijn has had to hit the ground running as Al Wahda, who finished third in the 2018-19 UAE Pro League, will be in 2019 AFC Champions League action in just under a month.

They will face Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr in the first leg of the Round of 16 on August 5 with the return leg a week later.

In separate comments posted on both his own and the club's websites, the 2005 Champions League winner with Liverpool said he had been approached on previous occasions about a move to China PR but that nothing lined up quite like Dalian's offer.

Al Duhail, whose reign as QSL champions was ended by Al Sadd last season, ended the campaign brightly by winning the Amir Cup with a 4-1 triumph in the final over their domestic rivals.

Defending champions Kashima Antlers, aiming to create history by becoming the first Japanese side to win back-to-back titles, will face two-time AFC Champions League winners Guangzhou Evergrande FC from China PR.

Guangzhou, who have not gone beyond the quarter-final stage since 2015, will welcome Kashima on August 28 before travelling to Japan on September 18.

"After a long path... We start a new challenge! I'm happy to begin this new project with Dalian Yifang," the Spaniard wrote on his verified Twitter account.

Benitez, who guided Liverpool to the UEFA Champions League crown in 2005 and has managed at European giants like Inter, Chelsea and Real Madrid, parted ways with Newcastle last week.