XI'AN, China - China's second-tier football club Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic on Monday named Kim Bong-gil of South Korea as its new head coach.

The club had been without a head coach since November 9, when previous incumbent Wang Bo left to take charge of Beijing Renhe.

Kim, 53, is a former South Korean international. Before being appointed as the first foreign head coach of Shaanxi Chang'an, Kim coached South Korean top division side Incheon United and the South Korea U-23 men's national team.

The regional Shaanxi government has unveiled plans to promote football in the region, in a bid to see the province have a side in the top-flight Chinese Super League by 2020.

Shaanxi Chang'an finished 9th in the second-tier China League One in 2019, meaning the club is currently the highest-ranked side from Shaanxi Province in China's footballing pyramid.