On August 26, Nantong Zhiyun Football Club of China's Central League officially announced that Cao Rui, a former Jiangsu Suntian star and assistant coach of Jiangsu Suning, will take over the coaching whip and become the team's new head coach.
As Cao Rui took over, former international footballer Xie Hui was suspended by the club for making inappropriate remarks after drinking and eventually announced that he had terminated his contract with the club.
The official announcement is below:
After a friendly negotiation between the two sides, Cao Rui officially becomes the head coach of the first team of Nantong Zhiyun Football Club from now on. The first time coach Cao will lead the warriors of Nantong Zhiyun to sweat on the green field and fight for the honor of Nantong!
Cao Rui was born on October 2, 1981 in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. As an outstanding player cultivated by Jiangsu Province, he received training in Nanjing Gulou No. 1 Middle School since his childhood, and grew up all the way to Jiangsu Provincial Team and became the core player of the team.
Cao Rui started his professional career with Jiangsu Suntian in the 2000 season. On March 30 of the same year, he made his professional debut in a League B match against Qingdao Hailifeng. In his 12-year playing career, Cao Rui made 147 appearances for Jiangsu and contributed 3 goals.
after retirement
Cao Rui chose to stay with the team, starting from the grass-roots level and learning. 2013 saw the 31-year-old Cao Rui become the reserve team coach of Jiangsu Suntian, and in the 2014 season he joined the coaching staff of the Jiangsu team and won the highest honor of the Central League in the previous season as an assistant coach.
Cao Rui adheres to the concept of lifelong learning, has a stable character, humor and strong team consciousness, and is the leader of the new generation of local coaches in Jiangsu. Coach Cao has a strong affinity and can establish a good tacit understanding with his players. Joining Nantong Zhiyun this time, we believe that this young team full of potential will give Coach Cao ample space to bring more honor to Nantong soccer!
