"Ivan Highly Concerned, Future Core of National Football Team's Midfield Exposed, 20 New Stars, or Successor to Zheng Zhi"

"If you were the head coach, would you open a back door for your own son?" In recent days, Zheng Zhi's choice has caught the attention of countless fans, with some even exclaiming, "How did Chinese football finally produce someone who understands things!" The incident began when national team assistant coach Zheng Zhi refused to give his son Zheng Zi Yi a "secret boost" during the selection process for the elite training camp for the U-07 age group. This action not only went viral among fans but also sparked a discussion within the entire Chinese football circle about "fairness" and "principles." Some argue, "What's wrong with helping your son? Throughout history, which sports star hasn't favored their children in some way?" However, others counter, "The national team has never been a place where one gets on the field based on family connections; this is the bottom line!" Amidst the differing opinions, Zheng Zhi firmly chose to stand on the side of professional ethics, winning the respect of fans with his actions. But, is this enough? In the context of the renewed Chinese football reforms, will Zheng Zhi's refusal to open a back door really make things better? Mentioning Zheng Zhi's name, it is likely that every Chinese person who loves ball sports is familiar with him. This individual, who can be described as a "living specimen" of Chinese football, has had a career spanning several important periods, from emerging from his hometown team Shandong Luneng, to becoming famous in the English Premier League with Charlton, and later joining Guangzhou Evergrande,…

In January, the domestic football scene once again became a focal point in the sports world, primarily due to the phenomenon of clubs bidding farewell to professional leagues. Among them, the well-known Guangzhou team was unable to escape its fate of disbandment and had to officially announce its withdrawal from professional leagues. Looking back at Guangzhou's history, it can be said that this is a club with a 70-year history, having won numerous championships including the AFC Champions League, Chinese Super League, FA Cup, and Super Cup. Now, reaching the point of disbandment, the huge contrast has also caused sighs from the outside world, and with the official announcement, the exit has become an irreversible fact. Although the club cannot continue, the players' careers must go on. After all, the current Guangzhou team still has many young and promising stars, among which the absolute mainstay Wang Shilong has received much attention. This 23-year-old fast horse on the flank has attracted the pursuit of many Chinese Super League teams. On one hand, Wang Shilong's position is right-back, and there is a scarcity of wing-back players in the domestic football scene. The potential he has shown has also made the Chinese Super League teams feel impressed and eager to make a move early to complete the signing. On the other hand, Wang Shilong is only 23 years old and is in the ascending stage of his career. As early as the 2020 season, he completed his Chinese Super League debut and subsequently became a protégé of Zheng Zhi. Last season, he played…

As we enter 2025, the survival status of various clubs has once again become a focal point for external attention, especially several key clubs that have long been the focus of fans' hearts. Although everyone does not wish to see the dissolution of clubs, it is regrettable that we will not see some old friends in the 2025 season. With the release of the Chinese Football Association's entry list, three clubs will not participate in the new season, including the veteran team Guangzhou FC, which has reached the pinnacle of domestic football on multiple occasions. However, due to operational issues, the team has been on a downward trajectory in recent years, struggling in the China League One for the past two seasons. Looking back at Guangzhou FC's history, it can be traced back to the 1950s, giving the team a 70-year history that has witnessed the development of domestic football. The team became widely known to the outside world in 1993 when the Sun God Group invested in the club, marking the beginning of professional operations. During the Jia-A period, Guangzhou FC's performance was average, mainly in an accumulation phase. Even after entering the Chinese Super League (CSL), Guangzhou FC's presence was not significant, sometimes even playing in the China League One. It wasn't until the 2010 season that Guangzhou FC received massive investment, upgraded its lineup, and achieved the goal of promotion to the CSL in the 2011 season. Subsequently, Guangzhou FC embarked on a high-end mode with continuous high investment. The club entered a glorious period of "seven…

As we step into 2025, the various national teams of Chinese men's football are fully prepared to launch a comprehensive offensive on the field, with a series of major competitions coming one after another. The national team is about to engage in the fierce 18-strong competition, while the Olympic team will strive in the U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, the youth team aims for outstanding achievements in the U20 Asian Cup finals, and the junior team is also striving to showcase their style in the U17 Asian Cup finals. In addition, the subsequent reserve teams are actively preparing to take over, including the U18 national youth (07 age group) and U16 national junior (09 age group). It is worth noting that the U18 national youth team will become the eligible team to participate in the 2027 U20 Asian Cup, however, the qualifiers are scheduled for September 2026, which makes it difficult for the current age group of the national youth team to officially form. Given this, at present, training camps or selection camps can only be organized under the names of "training camp" or "selection camp." At the same time, the head coach has not been determined yet, and the 44-year-old Zheng Zhi has become the hottest candidate for the head coach. Half a month ago, the Football Association successfully held the second phase of the 2007 age group elite player training camp this year at the beautiful Hainan Mission Hills Training Base in Haikou. In this training camp, most of the players are expected to become the backbone of the…

Recently, the Chinese football world has been shaken by a surprising piece of news. The Chinese coaching staff, who were originally learning foreign coaching tactics with the national team, have undergone a significant personnel adjustment. Group leader Zheng Zhi has been urgently transferred to serve as the head coach of the U17 national team. This change undoubtedly injects new vitality and expectations into the future of the U17 national team. At the same time, Chen Tao has also been appointed as an assistant coach for the U17 team. His addition will further enhance the strength and tactical understanding of this young team! Furthermore, former member of the Chinese coaching staff, Shao Jiayi, has made an important decision. He resigned from his position in the national team and turned to become the head coach of Qingdao team. As an experienced coach and player, Shao Jiayi's joining will undoubtedly bring new tactical concepts and systems to Qingdao team, hopefully helping this team achieve better results in future competitions. With the successive departures of Zheng Zhi, Chen Tao, and Shao Jiayi, the Chinese coaching staff of the national team has effectively disbanded. This change means that in future competitions, the Chinese team will rely more on the foreign coaching team and Ivan's tactical guidance. For Ivan, this is undoubtedly a major piece of good news. He will have greater autonomy to formulate and implement his own tactical concepts without being disturbed or constrained by the Chinese coaching staff. The disbandment of the Chinese coaching staff also marks a major transformation in the coaching…

Recently, according to the latest report by blogger "Su Karamos," Wuhan Three Towns midfielder He Chao is set to embark on a new chapter in his career by joining Henan Jianye in the Chinese Super League (CSL). This news has undoubtedly attracted the attention of domestic media and focused the eyes of many fans on this experienced midfielder. He Chao, born in 1995 in Shenyang, Liaoning, stands at 1.78 meters tall. He started his professional journey with Changchun Yatai's youth training system and stepped onto the first team stage in 2014, beginning his football dream chase. Capable of playing as a defensive midfielder or central midfielder, he has impressed with his solid technical foundation and excellent on-field awareness, gradually emerging as a rising star and earning selections for the U22 national youth team and the senior national team. During Lippi's tenure as the national team coach, he was very fond of He Chao, stating that he saw the shadow of Zheng Zhi in him and considered him the best successor to Zheng Zhi. In 2019, He Chao moved to Guangzhou Evergrande and later went on loan to Jiangsu Suning, continuously honing himself in different team environments. Over the past three seasons representing Wuhan Three Towns, he made a total of 75 appearances, becoming an indispensable part of the midfield and helping the team win both the CSL and the Super Cup titles, writing his football career with honors. Now at 29 years old, He Chao has a Transfermarkt value of 200,000 euros. Although his market value may seem low, his…