In the midst of Shanghai Port's celebration of their "double championship," the team experienced an unexpected turn of events. During the Christmas period, the club announced the departure of two key foreign players, dealing a significant blow to fans who were still reveling in the joy of victory. Firstly, Brazilian player Oscar, who had served the team for eight years, announced his departure. As the captain and core player of the team, Oscar made significant contributions during his time with Shanghai Port. He not only demonstrated exceptional skills and leadership on the field but also expressed deep affection for the city of Shanghai on multiple occasions. However, when Brazilian club Sao Paulo FC extended an invitation, the Brazilian star chose to return to his homeland. Although this decision was seen as expected by many, it still came as a shock and with reluctance to the fans when it happened. Following Oscar's announcement, the team also declared the departure of another important foreign player, Bargas. Unlike Oscar's situation, Bargas' future destination remains uncertain, but the team's decision to release the departure notice early added to the fans' concerns. The consecutive departures of these "big and small kings" dealt a severe blow to the team's strength within a short week. The core reason behind these changes is the salary cap policy implemented by the Chinese Football Association. The new policy stipulates that the annual salary of foreign players cannot exceed 3 million euros, and the total annual salary of foreign players per team must not exceed 10 million euros. This policy directly…

In the ever-changing landscape of international football, every move made by the national team is under intense scrutiny. Recently, a statement by Croatian coach Ivan has sent shockwaves through the domestic football scene, igniting a flurry of heated discussions. When the media posed the weighty topic of the prospects for the national team's 18-strong match to the venerable Ivan, his bold declaration of "leading the national team to directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup as one of the top two in the group" immediately caused a stir, completely disregarding the winding and treacherous path of the playoff escape route. At first glance, Ivan's confidence seems somewhat out of place. After all, the national team's journey to promotion has been fraught with thorns and traps, extremely perilous. Looking back at the 36-strong tournament schedule, the national team's performance was truly heart-wrenching. In confrontations with Singapore and Thailand, the national team suffered consecutive setbacks, precious points slipping away like sand through their fingers, pushing them to the brink of despair, their situation precarious. The away game against South Korea ended in a dismal 0-1 defeat, and they only managed to squeeze into the top 18 with a meager goal difference advantage, the whole process akin to dancing on a razor's edge, where any misstep could lead to utter failure, leaving fans' hearts in their throats. Entering the early stages of the top 18, the national team still couldn't shake off their slump. In the first three rounds against strong football nations like Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, the shadow of three…

On December 28th, Beijing time, the official Weibo account of Cangzhou Mighty Lions, a Chinese Super League club, responded to rumors of its dissolution. The club stated that it has reached a settlement agreement with the players regarding their reasonable demands for unpaid wages, and the funds for the settlement have been secured, awaiting final approval from the Chinese Football Association (CFA). Subsequently, all the players of Cangzhou Mighty Lions signed an open letter addressed to the CFA. In the letter, the players expressed that the funds have been received, and the club and the players have reached a reconciliation. They thanked the CFA for its strict review process and requested not to revoke the team's entry qualification due to a one-day delay in the arrival of funds. On the evening of December 20th, the CFA announced the second batch of clubs that had completed debt repayment, with Cangzhou Mighty Lions included in the list. However, after the announcement, as many as ten current or former players of Cangzhou Mighty Lions publicly questioned the club's actions. Players such as Oscar, Yan Zihao, Zheng Dalun, Mo Xuchen, Wang Peng, Wen Da, Zheng Kaimu, Guo Hao, Shao Puliang, and Sun Qinhan posted on social media or reposted messages criticizing the club for unpaid wages. Foreign player Oscar, who has left the club, even claimed that he had not received any payment. After a week of silence, Cangzhou Mighty Lions finally made a public response. With the strong support of the Cangzhou Municipal Party Committee and Government, the club has reached a settlement…

At the end of 2024, Chinese football has received an exciting piece of news. On December 27th, renowned football veteran Sun Jihai was officially elected as the Vice Chairman of Liaoning Football Association. This appointment aligns with the significant reform policies proposed by Song Kai, the chairman of the Chinese Football Association, infusing new hope into the future development of Chinese football! Recently, Song Kai proposed an important policy at a Chinese football development seminar: retired professional players who do not participate in youth training for a certain number of years will not be allowed to coach professional teams. The introduction of this policy demonstrates the FA's high regard for youth training and reflects the determination to "start from the foundation." In this context, Sun Jihai's appointment can be seen as the best interpretation of this policy. As one of the most influential players in Chinese football history, Sun Jihai's achievements are widely recognized. He won the Jia-A League championship four times, followed Manchester City to win the English Football Championship League title in 2001, participated in the South Korea-Japan World Cup with the national team in 2002, and was even inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2015. These brilliant records have earned him prestige in the international football arena, as FIFA President Gianni Infantino said during his visit to China in October this year, Sun Jihai is undoubtedly a Chinese football legend. However, what truly earns Sun Jihai respect is his dedication to youth training after retirement. During the period when "golden football" was prevalent, he…

As the end of 2024 approaches, there has been significant news in the world of Chinese football. At a football development seminar, FA Chairman Song Kai proposed that after retiring, professional players must engage in youth training for a certain number of years before they are eligible to coach professional teams, a statement that has garnered much attention. Soon after, the suspense was resolved when 47-year-old Sun Jihai was officially appointed as the Vice President of Liaoning Football Association, a crucial position within the FA system. Sun Jihai has an outstanding record in Chinese football history. Domestically, he helped his team win the Jia A League championship four times and played a key role in helping the national team reach the final stages of the South Korea and Japan World Cup. On the international stage, he also excelled, winning the English Football Championship League title and being inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has publicly praised him as a legendary figure in Chinese football. Now that Sun Jihai has taken on a new role, many fans have high hopes for him. It is worth noting that Sun Jihai previously served as Vice President of Xinjiang Football Association, not only leading the Xinjiang team to a runner-up finish at the National Games but also bringing about many positive changes for local football development. The emergence of talented young Xinjiang players such as Bai Helamu, Yimulan, and Aibula is inseparable from Sun Jihai's contributions back then. Moreover, Sun Jihai has a deep connection with FA Chairman…

Portuguese sports media reported that the Portuguese U15 national team is participating in the UEFA Development Cup, which is equivalent to the European Championship for 15-year-old players. The 14-year-old Chinese player Francisco Wang wore the No. 7 jersey of the Portuguese U15 national team and represented them in three consecutive group stage matches. The Portuguese U15 national team was grouped with Ukraine U15, Turkey U15, and Italy U15. In the first match, the Portuguese U15 national team defeated Ukraine U15 3-0. Chinese player Francisco Wang started as a winger/attacking midfielder, playing 75 minutes and helping the team win 3-0. In the second match, the Portuguese U15 national team defeated Turkey U15 3-2. Francisco Wang came on as a substitute in the 55th minute and helped the team win. In the third match, the Portuguese U15 national team lost 2-3 to Italy U15. Francisco Wang came on as a substitute in the 46th minute. Chinese player Francisco Wang helped the Portuguese U15 national team win 2 and lose 1 in 3 matches, accumulating 6 points and securing the top spot in the group. The Portuguese U15 national team advanced to the quarter-finals of the European Development Cup (U15 European Championship). Francisco Wang, whose Chinese name is Wang Lei, was born in 2010 in the small town of Abrantes, Portugal. His parents are from Qingtian, Zhejiang, and are engaged in business in Portugal. Francisco Wang joined the Benfica youth training at the age of 8, going through the Benfica U11, U13, and U15 teams. Currently, he plays for Benfica U15A as a…