World Football

BEIJING, July 17 (Reuters) - China has taken the day-to-day running of its Olympic soccer team away from coach Ratomir Dujkovic for health reasons less than a month before the Beijing Games, state media reported on Thursday.

The Serbian coach will retain his title but but will be limited to offering "technical analysis" and "macro advice" to Yin Tiesheng, who is now running the team, Chinese Football Association (CFA) head Xie Yalong told Xinhua.

"Dujkovic has not been sacked," said Xie. "He is still the head coach of China Olympic team but now the daily training and matches will be supervised by Yin."

Xie said 62-year-old Dujkovic, who led Ghana to the knockout stages of the 2006 World Cup finals, had accepted the decision after discussions with the CFA.

"This decision was made mainly with regard to his health condition," said Xie. "He's not in good physical condition, he's suffering from high blood pressure and headaches."

Dujkovic, who has also coached Venezuela, Myanmar and Rwanda, was hired by the CFA in 2006 with the aim of reaching the semi-finals of the Beijing Olympics.

He also took over the senior side last year with compatriot Vladimir Petrovic but they were unable to get China beyond the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

"Dujkovic has given the team a good framework of techniques and tactics and he knows the players very well so he can still offer technical advice and analysis," Xie added.

Yin, 52, the former coach of Chinese Super League club Qingdao, became leader of Dujkovic's team of Chinese assistants in June.

China will play New Zealand, Brazil and Belgium in Group C of the Olympic soccer tournament, running from Aug. 6-23 in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, Tianjin and Qinhuangdao.