PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE NEWS
Ex-Everton star succeeds Lippi as China coach
Li Tie
PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE NEWS
T
he appointment of Li
Tie as China’s coach
marks a major change
in direction for the
national side. His
appointment follows
Marcello Lippi’s period
in charge, which ended at the end of last
year when a World Cup qualifying loss to
Syria placed China’s chances of reaching
the 2022 finals in serious doubt.
A 2-1 defeat in Dubai left China in
second place in Group A in the second
phase of Asia’s qualifying campaign.
Only the winners of each of the eight
groups is guaranteed to advance to
the next round, with slots also being
allocated to the four best runners-up.
China are eight points behind Syria,
having played one game less before
facing Maldives in late March in what will
be Li’s first competitive game in charge.
“In the process of recruiting, the first
and most important thing is that we want
to find people who want to play soccer
for our nation, who have the spirit of
selfless dedication, who want to sacrifice
everything for the national team,” Li said
at his official unveiling. “Second, we want
to find players who can shoulder the
pressure of the national team.”
Lippi originally quit in January 2019
after a quarter-final exit at the Asian Cup,
but was reappointed in May. “I was well
paid and I take full responsibility,” the
Italian said after the Syria defeat.
Ex-Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro took
over from Lippi but lasted just two games.
The Chinese Football Association(CFA) said it had “accepted” Lippi’s latest
resignation, adding: “We are really sorry
that the unsatisfactory match results
disappoint all Chinese fans.
“The CFA will reflect seriously to
rebuild the team and try our best in
the following World Cup qualifiers.”
Long-term development is the goal
for Li and the federation, which recently
announced changes to the regulations
surrounding foreign players in the
Chinese Super League. Plans are also
ongoing to naturalise further foreigners
following September’s debut of Brazil-
born Elkeson, who became the first
non-Chinese player to be capped.
China retains a long-standing ambition
to host the World Cup and the 2030
finals remain a possibility, while 2034
would give the country a chance to build
an entire new generation of players.
Li’s time at Everton was restricted
by injuries but he remains one of
China’s most respected players, having
represented his country 92 times and
played at the 2002 World Cup finals,
before moving into a coaching role.
He served as assistant to Lippi both
during his time with the national team
and at Chinese Super League side
Guangzhou Evergrande.
Most recently, Li guided Wuhan Zall
to promotion to the Chinese top flight.
“I have learnt a lot from him,” Li says of
Lippi. “I think one of the important points
is his yearning to win, which is beyond
that of many other coaches which I
have experienced.”
John Holmesdaleerror you make is punished.”
But then come those moments
that make it all worthwhile...
Chipolina was in the line-up for
Lincoln Red Imps when they beat Celtic
at home in the preliminary round of the
Champions League in 2016 and for the
national team two years later in Armenia,
where a 1-0 win ensured their first – and
to date only – away victory in a
competitive international.
Chipolina says of that game: “By far
the best day for our football, against a
team that included Henrikh Mkhitaryan.”
Mark Gleeson
Goal...Li Tie