During the off-season, four Chinese Super League (CSL) clubs have completed coaching changes. As a result, the head coaches for all 16 teams in the new season of the CSL have been basically finalized, setting the stage for a fierce competition among the top teams. In this article, the author will introduce the head coaches of the 16 teams in the new season based on their rankings from the previous season, listed in descending order.
The head coach of Shanghai Port remains Muscat. During the off-season, the team experienced significant changes in its lineup, with two key midfielders, Oscar and Bargas, leaving the club. With the absence of these crucial midfield players and the difficulty in finding suitable replacements, it remains uncertain whether Muscat's attacking football strategy will still be effective in the new season.
The head coach of Shanghai Shenhua is still Slutsky. Last season, Slutsky led the team to a runner-up finish in the league, an impressive achievement. However, behind this success lies an element of luck that has somewhat masked some of the team's issues. For instance, can the team find a more reliable striker than Malele? Will the remarkable Yu Han-chao continue his magic in the next season?
The head coach of Chengdu Rongcheng is still Xu Zhengyuan. Objectively speaking, Xu Zhengyuan is indeed skilled, capable of orchestrating rich tactical combinations with ordinary domestic players and a few foreign players.
The head coach of Beijing Guoan has changed from Suarez to Setien. Setien is Spanish and has coached at prestigious clubs such as Barcelona, advocating for offensive play, possession, and ground-based tactics. If the locker room remains stable, Beijing Guoan's current squad should have a high lower limit when playing possession football.
The head coach of Shandong Taishan is still Cuikexi. The new season will mark the first official dual-forward setup for Taishan, with the pairing of Crescencio and Zecca, which will be interesting to observe for the potential chemistry they may develop. Another point of interest is whether the reduction of one midfielder will affect the balance between attack and defense.
The head coach of Tianjin Jinmen Tiger is still Yu Genwei. Jinmen Tiger's investment for the new season is expected to be the lowest in the entire CSL, and achieving a mid-to-lower position in the league would be considered a victory.
The head coach of Zhejiang Team is likely to change from Jodi to Cardona. Cardona is a typical Spanish system coach who has served as an assistant to world-renowned coach Pep Guardiola. It is reported that Cardona is already within the team.
The head coach of Henan is still Nan Ji-yi, the head coach of Changchun Yatai is still Xie Hui, and the head coach of Qingdao West Coast is still Shao Jiayi.
Fans are encouraged to pay close attention to Qingdao West Coast in the new season. During the off-season, they have brought in several young talents with overseas experience, such as goalkeeper Li Hao from Atletico Madrid, former Espanyol youth player Yang Xi, and returning overseas player He Xiaoke.
The head coach of Wuhan Three Towns has changed from Rodriguez to Martins. Martins is Portuguese and has previously coached in the Portuguese leagues, being friends with former Beijing Guoan head coach Suarez. It is reported that his annual salary is less than 300,000 euros.
The head coach of Qingdao Hainiu has changed from Yasen to Li Xiaopeng, with former national team player Hao Junmin also joining Hainiu.
Shenzhen Xinpengcheng, Yunnan Yulong, Dalian Yingbo, and Meizhou Hakka have not changed their head coaches.
The head coach of Shenzhen is Latanzi, the head coach of Yunnan is Anderson, the head coach of Dalian is Li Guoxu, and the head coach of Meizhou is Ljubinkovic.
What are your thoughts, dear fans? Feel free to leave your comments and join the discussion!