Shenyang, October 7, 2001, Wulihe Stadium.
Yu Genwei scored a fine shot and the national soccer team beat Oman 1-0, advancing to the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup two rounds ahead of schedule. This was the first and only time in the history of Chinese soccer to step into the World Cup final round.
Time is running out, when the Qatar World Cup fire rekindled, the national football team once again become a spectator.
The soccer feast is once again in our eyes, let us relive the glory of Chinese men's soccer team breaking into the World Cup.
Dreaming of the World Cup in 2022, dreaming back to 2002.
By Zheng Hao Jinan, MassNewsPosters.com
This issue focuses on Yu Genwei, whose kick in the editor's note helped fuel the national soccer team's World Cup journey.
Short World Cup trip, few opportunities
In 1999, the twin stars of Yu Genwei and Zhang Xiaorui shone in the soccer world, making the AA team highly regarded. Jin Zhiyang's tactical innovations made it possible for Tianjin not to worry about relegation. As the leader of the Tianjin team and a regular in the national team, Yu Genwei naturally seized the opportunity to "broaden his horizons" by following Milu.
Yu Genwei's moment in the match against Oman
Yu Genwei helped the national soccer team to reach the World Cup in Wulihe, but the meritorious coach Milu did not give him too many chances in the final stage. Just like the night he helped the national soccer team break out of Asia, Milo "trusted" Yu Genwei. In addition to letting Yu Genwei sit on the bench of Brazil, the strongest team in the group, Milo only sent him to play in the remaining two games.
As a result, not much has been written about Yu Genwei in his first and only World Cup trip.
Tianjin's leader is not a complaining spectator, nor an absolute starter for 90 minutes; neither Milu's favorite, nor a key figure in the coach's mind.
A flat exit, no more Yu Genwei in the jungle
If it were not for his reappointment as a first-team manager in the Chinese Super League in recent years, there would have been very little discussion about Yu Genwei.
Yu Genwei is not retiring on his own, since the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, the number of times he has appeared on the national team list has gradually decreased. 2006, Yu Genwei scored his 100th goal for Tianjin, and in 2005, he scored a record high of 12 goals in a single season, but this is not the direct reason for his retirement.
In 2006, the iconic figure of Tianjin soccer quickly retired from the game after experiencing highlight moments. Injuries were also a major reason.
The soccer complex has never faded.
After his retirement, Yu Genwei made several transformations. He served as deputy general manager, member of the coaching staff, and assistant coach of Tianjin Teda FC, and later began to devote himself to soccer training to nurture a new generation for Chinese soccer.
"Even though it's just behind-the-scenes work, this man, he's a character." In the 2017 CCTV promotional video, a Tianjin "brother" in front of the camera Yu Genwei praise.
Yu Genwei has been praised for establishing a youth soccer club. In his opinion, these are his "realistic" payment.
Yu Genwei, a never-fading soccer legend.
