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As the tide of Chinese soccer gold dollars recedes, many clubs are facing financial difficulties. They have quickly fallen from their once-luxurious lineups into a situation where they can't make ends meet, defaulting on salary payments until they are disbanded. In recent years, the players and coaches have been in the midst of frequent salary disputes, but there have been few successful cases. Some foreign players and coaches have even appealed to FIFA, and some clubs have even suffered transfer bans. However, for dissolved clubs, even if they win the lawsuit, the compensation may be out of reach. Zhang Wailong, the foreign coach of Chongqing Liangjiang Athletic, is one of the victims.
For fans familiar with Chinese soccer, the name Zhang Wailong is no stranger. Although he is a South Korean, he has a strong bond with Chinese soccer. Since 2011, Zhang has been coaching in Qingdao, and has subsequently coached teams such as Dalian Albin, Henan Jianye and Chongqing Lifan. His rigorous and responsible style has won the respect of players and fans. Zhang is known for his "Seven Seconds Theory", which emphasizes quick counter-attacks and is applicable to relegated teams in the Chinese Super League. He led his team to a 2-1 victory in his debut in Chongqing.
However, Chongqing Liangjiang Athletic also suffered a heavy crisis before disbanding, with numerous players speaking out publicly to demand their salaries. Only six days after captain Feng Jin's outburst, the club announced its withdrawal from Chinese soccer and disbanded the team. The team's history is set for May 24, 2022. Nonetheless, Zhang Wailong's affection for Chongqing touched many. After the dissolution, he promised to return to coach if there was a team in Chongqing. At the end of last year, he also donated materials to the staff at the club's original location, which shows his deep emotion.
But little known is that the amount of salary owed by Zhang Wailong is staggering. In a civil judgment published on referee.com, Zhang Wailong won his case in the first instance. The Chongqing Jiangbei District People's Court ruled that Chongqing Two Rivers Athletic Football Club owed Zhang Wai Long 10,487,201.83 yuan in wages and 604,770.01 yuan in bonuses from January 1, 2020 to May 31, 2022. Fans learned from the judgment that Zhang Wai Long has been owed salary since 2020, and the three-year cumulative arrears of nearly 1.3 million yuan.
However, it is a sad fact that even if Zhang won the lawsuit, the salary arrears may come to naught, because the club no longer exists. Whether this money will be compensated by Lifan Group or Liangjiang Real Estate is yet to be decided. In the end, Zhang Wailong may suffer losses. If there are more and more of these incidents, it will be detrimental to the development of Chinese soccer in the long run. Good things don't go out the door, but bad things spread a thousand miles. Negative image in the international soccer world spread geometrically, the future and which foreign aid foreign coach dare to come?
