Andre Villas-Boas is leaving Shanghai SIPG to drive in 2018 Dakar Rally

It's been confirmed that Andre Villas-Boas is to leave his post as the head coach of the Chinese Super League giant Shanghai SIPG.

File photo of Andre Villas-Boas, the head coach of Shanghai SIPG. [Photo: IC]

The former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager joined Shanghai SIPG in November last year.

The team was a semi-finalist in the Asian Champions League and the runers-up in both the Chinese Super League and FA Cup.

Boas is now heading to next year's Dakar Rally.

He will drive a Toyota Hilux in the 15-day rally.

The event starts in Peru on January 6th and travels through Bolivia, before finishing in Argentina on January 20th.

The 40-year-old motorsport enthusiast considered tackling the gruelling race on a motorbike, but was persuaded to switch to the Hilux pick-up.

Fellow Portuguese Ruben Faria will be his co-driver.