On September 12, the Cangzhou Lions team will have a brand new assembly, but the figure of former head coach Gutbi will no longer be, the team has terminated its contract, and is currently actively searching for a new head coach. After the assembly, the interim baton of Cangzhou Lions will be held by U21 head coach Liu Yan.
This season, Cangzhou Lions experienced a big reshuffle, not only the equity structure diversification, the team also moved from Shijiazhuang to Cangzhou, Hebei Province. At the beginning of the season, the team attracted frequent reinforcements, Ahmadov, Xie Pengfei, Zheng Kaimu, Guo Hao, Liu Yang, Lin Chuangyi and other famous players to join, the team's overall strength has been significantly improved.
However, in the first half of the first phase of the league, due to various teething problems, the team's performance was dismal, with only 3 draws and 2 losses. In the second half of the league, Cangzhou Lions recovered and beat Qingdao in the 8th round and Shenzhen in the 13th round, but the performance in other matches was mediocre, ending with 2 wins, 1 draw and 6 losses.
At the end of the first stage, Cangzhou Lions accumulated 10 points with 2 wins, 4 draws and 8 losses, and ranked second last in Guangzhou. At present, the relegation group of 6 teams points bite very tight, Chongqing Two Rivers Athletic and Wuhan team accumulated 11 points, Cangzhou Lions accumulated 10 points, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger accumulated 9 points, Qingdao and Dalian People's Team are 7 points. If there is no accident, the relegation playoff places will be produced in these six teams.
Currently, Cangzhou Lions are facing great pressure to cope with the relegation battle as well as to meet all the preparations for the new season. In this context, the team decisively replaced the head coach Guterbi.
Guterbi was instrumental in the Cangzhou Lions' Super League run, leading the team to success after returning in the middle of the 2019 season. However, the performance of the 2020 and 2021 seasons in the Super League was not satisfactory, and the team's performance in the second phase of the 2020 season declined sharply, and the team was eventually relegated, and fortunately returned to the Super League on a replacement basis. Unfortunately, Guterbi failed to lead the team to a satisfactory record this season.
Currently, Cangzhou Lions are actively looking for a new head coach, and it is understood that the preferred target is a foreign coach. However, due to entry restrictions and other factors, the introduction of foreign coaches face many challenges, only foreign head coach entry, in order to finally reach cooperation.
Alternatively, the Cangzhou Lions may also look for a new head coach from a local coach. Local coaches have their shortcomings, but the advantage is that they can arrive quickly, understand the team better, and help get into shape quickly.
Overall, disregarding the AFC Cup results, Cangzhou Lions have plenty of time to make adjustments, with the second stage of the league set to open in early December. If the selection is completed within a month, the new manager will have about two months to get to know the team better and revamp it.
