Recently, with the confirmation that two overseas players, Hou Yongyong and Wu Shaocong, will return to the Chinese Super League (CSL), it not only faces the "reduction" of an already mediocre overseas contingent but also resets the number of players serving in Europe's mainstream leagues back to "zero." Strictly speaking, the Norwegian First Division and the Polish Super League can at best be considered third-rate leagues in Europe. However, this is already the pinnacle that domestic players can reach. The remaining players can only wait for opportunities to play in Spain's third and fourth-tier leagues, German community leagues, Belgium's third-tier league, etc. In response to the difficulties of overseas development, the Football Association is also exploring new ways. For example, the FA Chairman Song Kai once planned to require sponsors to provide overseas subsidies for players and their families, and even emulate Japan's early model of bringing capital to stay abroad (salaries fully borne by advertisers). The age for staying abroad is more inclined to start from teenagers. Recently, a piece of news has undoubtedly added new possibilities for overseas development. According to the official revelation of the French Ligue 1 team Auxerre Club, the young players from the youth training college cooperated with Shanghai Jinshan Sports Center visited Auxerre recently for a 12-day training and competition. They will compete with Auxerre players of the same age in France, improving their skills. Most importantly, they are preparing in advance for the possibility of joining Auxerre Club later. Auxerre Football Club, founded in 1905, has a history of 120 years and…

The first training session of the year for the Chinese men's national football team, organized in Hainan, has concluded. The results of the evaluation conducted by head coach Ivanković on several new national players have also been released. According to reports from related media and sources, three new national players have successfully passed the evaluation and will remain with the team to play against Saudi Arabia and Australia in the upcoming 18-strong match in March. Who are these three new national players? Please continue reading to find out! The first is Hou Yongyong! His selection this time was a natural fit. It is reported that Ivanković had long wanted to recruit Hou Yongyong for an assessment. However, due to Hou Yongyong's previous involvement with Lanhjem in the Norwegian First Division in Europe, it was very inconvenient for him to travel back and forth. Long-distance travel could potentially affect the player's condition if he turned out to be unsuitable. Nonetheless, Hou Yongyong remained under Ivanković's observation. Honestly, as the top scorer and MVP of the Norwegian First Division, Hou Yongyong undoubtedly possesses a certain level of ability. Therefore, during this winter break, Ivanković specially arranged for Hou Yongyong to join the national team for an assessment. Currently, the assessment results for Hou Yongyong appear to be positive. Moreover, a key point is that Hou Yongyong is about to join the newly promoted Yunnan Yulong team in the Chinese Super League. This way, Hou Yongyong can be called up by Ivanković at any time. The second is Wu Shaocong. Previously, Wu Shaocong…

The first training camp of the year for the Chinese men's national football team has concluded in Hainan. The results of the evaluation conducted by head coach Ivanković on several new national players have also been released. According to reports from related media and sources, three new national players have successfully passed the assessment and will remain with the team to play against Saudi Arabia and Australia in the 18th round of matches in March. Who are these three new national players? Please continue reading! The first is Hou Yongyong! His selection this time was a natural fit. It is reported that Ivanković had long wanted to recruit Hou Yongyong for an evaluation. However, since Hou Yongyong previously played for Lanhjem in the Norwegian First Division in Europe, it was very inconvenient for him to travel back and forth. Long-distance travel could potentially affect the player's condition if he turned out to be unsuitable. Nevertheless, Hou Yongyong remained under Ivanković's observation. Honestly, as the top scorer and MVP of the Norwegian First Division, Hou Yongyong undoubtedly possesses a certain level of ability. Therefore, during the winter break, Ivanković specially arranged for Hou Yongyong to join the national team for an evaluation. Currently, the evaluation of Hou Yongyong seems to be going well. Moreover, the key point is that Hou Yongyong is about to join the new Chinese Super League team Yunnan Yulong. This way, Hou Yongyong can be called up by Ivanković at any time. The second is Wu Shaocong. Previously, Wu Shaocong was the first domestic player to go…

The 2025 season of the Chinese Super League (CSL) is set to kick off in late February, with two newly promoted teams, Yunnan Yukuang and Dalian Yingbo, drawing particular attention as they make their debut in the top-flight league. Dalian Yingbo, representing the new banner of Dalian football, has also shown a strong competitive desire. The team acquired Marele from Shanghai Shenhua, who scored 16 goals last season, with a reported after-tax annual salary of around 1.1 million euros. Additionally, the team brought in Mamadou, the main central defender from Beijing Guoan last season, and Labuayed from Yunnan Yukuang. In terms of foreign players, Dalian Yingbo has targeted Alemi, a current Macedonian international midfielder who excelled in the Romanian league and is expected to become the core of the team's midfield. For domestic players, the team has recruited seven players, including Cui Qi and Wen Xiaojia, all with rich CSL experience, effectively enhancing the team's overall strength. Yunnan Yukuang, on the other hand, has made even bolder moves in player acquisitions. After the end of the golden era in the CSL, this newly promoted team invested heavily in the winter transfer window, signing multiple new players and becoming a new tycoon in the league. It is well-known that Yunnan Yukuang is backed by the powerful Yuxi Yukuang Steel Group, and they spare no expense in player acquisitions. Recently, Yunnan Yukuang signed Hou Yongyong, the first naturalized Chinese football player, with a transfer fee reportedly exceeding 1 million euros. Hou Yongyong previously played for Beijing Guoan but failed to meet expectations…

It has been confirmed that naturalized national player Hou Yongyong is set to join Yunnan Yulong. Following the conclusion of the current national team's winter training in Haikou, he will travel to Yunnan for a medical examination and then proceed to Thailand to participate in Yunnan Yulong's winter training. Last season, Hou Yongyong, who played for Larkham in the Norwegian First Division, was awarded the league's Golden Boot and MVP with an impressive record of 19 goals and 8 assists. After the season ended, he was included in the national team roster for the first time and arrived in Haikou on the 9th to join the national team for a 10-day training camp. In an interview on the 10th, when asked about the perceived gap in strength between the Chinese Super League (CSL) and the Norwegian First Division, Hou Yongyong stated, "It's difficult to make an overall comparison; I feel that the competitiveness in the CSL might be stronger." At that time, he also revealed that he had received attention from top-tier league teams, saying, "Let's see what happens next." Norwegian TV 2 reported that the Norwegian Premier League team Rosenborg had shown significant interest in Hou Yongyong. However, according to our understanding, Hou Yongyong ultimately chose to return to the CSL and join Yunnan Yulong.

According to the latest news from domestic media, 27-year-old naturalized national player Hou Yongyong will end his overseas career. At present, he has signed with Yunnan Yulong, a newly promoted team in the Chinese Super League (CSL), and rejected the contract offered by Rosenborg, a top club in the Norwegian Eliteserien. Last season, Hou Yongyong made a big splash in the Norwegian First Division (Norwegian second-tier league), scoring 19 goals and providing 8 assists in 29 appearances, winning the top scorer and league MVP awards. With such impressive performances, Hou Yongyong also earned recognition from Ivan. Recently, Hou Yongyong finally received a call-up to the national team, which is also his first selection for the national football team list. Currently, Hou Yongyong is training with the national team in Haikou. However, after completing the training camp, Hou Yongyong will not return to Europe to play football. The "Football" newspaper confirmed that Hou Yongyong signed with Yunnan Yulong last night. In the new season, Hou Yongyong will compete in the CSL. Three days later, Hou Yongyong will report to Yunnan Yulong. Currently, Hou Yongyong's market value on Transfermarkt is 400,000 euros. Norwegian media revealed today that Rosenborg, a top club in the Norwegian Eliteserien, is very interested in Hou Yongyong and has made an offer to him. However, Lanheim, Hou Yongyong's current club, ultimately accepted the offer from Yunnan Yulong. Many fans and media people expressed regret over Hou Yongyong's decision to reject the top Norwegian club and return to play in the CSL. Journalist Li Xuan said, "Although I want…

After only five days of training, the Chinese national football team has announced that four key players have left the squad, casting a shadow over their preparations for the crucial 18th round qualifying match. Cheng Jin, Wu Mi Jiang, and two others have departed due to various reasons, leading to significant changes in the core lineup at a time when the team should be making its final push. This unexpected development raises questions about the state of the national team and whether they can withstand the pressure of the upcoming "do-or-die" battle. Despite his age of 73, coach Ivankovic's dedication to training surpasses that of many younger coaches. He has implemented an intense "two sessions a day" regimen, with morning physical training and afternoon tactical drills, pushing the players to their limits. As insiders put it, the training is so rigorous that "it makes your feet ache." However, Ivankovic's approach is not solely focused on physical endurance; he also employs a unique "psychological massage therapy." Contrary to the perception that the national team relies solely on brute force, Ivankovic places great emphasis on the mental well-being of his players. He arranges tactical analysis classes to ensure everyone knows their role on the field and provides specialized psychological counseling to help them cope with the anxiety and stress of high-stakes matches. After all, the World Cup qualifiers are no child's play, and a single misstep could lead to a significant setback. Ivankovic's combination of "iron-bloodedness" and "softness" aims to push the players' physical capabilities to the extreme while stabilizing their mental…

The first training session of the Chinese men's national football team in 2025 has attracted significant attention as Ivan Kozlovic called up 32 national players, with the inclusion of naturalized player Hou Yongyong becoming a focal point. Hou's impressive performance in the Norwegian league has made him a strong contender for a new star in the national team, while the absence of Fernandinho due to health reasons has sparked discussions among fans. The question remains whether Ivan's approach to player selection and the integration of naturalized players can bring about a breakthrough for the national team. In this training session without any warm-up matches, the future direction of the national team has become a focus for both fans and media. The training sessions of the Chinese men's national football team always generate considerable interest, especially when naturalized players take center stage. Hou Yongyong, who shone brightly in the Norwegian league, has finally donned the national team's jersey. With 19 goals in 29 games, one cannot help but wonder if he could be the savior of the national team. Ivan's strategy of steady change has been consistent, and this training session is no exception. Thirty-two national players have gathered, with only Fernandinho absent due to health issues. There are no friendly matches scheduled, focusing instead on physical recovery, which seems to be preparing for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Ivan's plan is clear: are naturalized players the future of the national team or just a short-term quick fix? Hou Yongyong's selection is undoubtedly the highlight of this training session. As an…

Winter Training Begins: Two Newcomers to the National Football Team Become Ivan's Key Promotion Targets, One Capable of Replacing Fernandinho The winter training for the national football team is in full swing, with two newcomers, Wu Shaocong and Hou Yongyong, becoming the focus of attention. One is a promising new star on the defensive line, and the other is a hope for naturalization on the front line. Coach Ivan Kozlovic's intentions are clear: to use young talent to leverage a new future for the national team. However, this selection also makes people wonder if the "youth storm" of the national team can truly take on the responsibility of impacting the World Cup? On January 10, 2025, the national team's winter training kicked off in Haikou, with the entire team embarking on a new round of preparation under the leadership of head coach Ivan Kozlovic. The biggest highlight of this winter training is undoubtedly the appearance of two newcomers, Wu Shaocong and Hou Yongyong. Their arrival not only brought fresh blood to the training ground but also filled the fans with expectations for the future lineup of the national team. Wu Shaocong, 24 years old and 1.92 meters tall, has experience playing in the Polish league and is about to join Beijing Guoan after returning to China. As a left-footed central defender, his physical conditions and technical characteristics make him a key target for Ivan's observation. In the national team's lineup, left-footed players are rare, and Wu Shaocong's emergence may be able to make up for this shortcoming. Judging from his…

If Hou Yongyong had not been called up, the new national team's naturalized players would have been "completely wiped out." Li Ke was originally one of the defensive midfielders, but Ivan failed to persuade him after multiple attempts and eventually gave up. On January 10th, commentator Yuan Jia claimed on social media that Li Ke felt he was facing double standards from Yang Kewei. "Yang Kewei wanted strict military discipline, and the reason for expelling Li Ke was that he was late for training once. Yang Kewei made a decisive decision and immediately expelled Li Ke." "Within a day or two, another very important starting player was also late. After the lateness, Yang Kewei compromised and did not make the decision to expel this player." The media person stated that Li Ke accepted being expelled for being late, but when his teammate was late without any punishment, this became the reason for the conflict between Li Ke and the national team. The core issue is that Yang Kewei could not treat everyone equally and showed favoritism. Both Ivan and Li Ke communicated, but Li Ke believed that there must be an explanation for this matter. "But the mistake lies with Yang Kewei, and he has already left. You can't ask Yang Kewei to apologize to you. This is the trouble left behind by Yang Kewei." This also sparked heated discussions among fans, "If this is really the case, I think Li Ke is quite wronged. He is also the kind of stubborn person who will definitely not go back without…