On the night of January 8 in Beijing, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) suddenly unveiled a huge squad for the latest edition of the national football team, with a list of 52 players plus a 15-member coaching team, a message that instantly set off an uproar in the football world. Xie Qiang, a former national soccer interpreter, expressed his opinion that such a huge lineup is a great shame for the sport of soccer.
Xie Qiang pointed out bluntly:
National Football League coaching team, this approach is puzzling, as if the stars are dancing, it is difficult to look good. Is this a joke? This behavior is undoubtedly a great insult to the soccer profession.
Xie Qiang further analyzed that the composition of the national team's coaching staff usually includes one to two tactical coaches, one physical fitness coach, one goalkeeper coach, and support staff such as team leaders and doctors. Such a configuration is already sufficient, is not the position on the bench more critical and sensitive? The national team is not a place to train youth players, but a place to bring together technically mature players, and this team is the brain of the army, responsible for decision-making and analysis.
First, the formation of the coaching team should be led by the head coach, each member of the team to play their respective advantages, closely united around the head coach, to form a unified command center, honor and difficulty sharing.
Second, if the head coach is weak, one or two high-performing coaches from across the country can be selected as assistant coaches with his consent to ensure that top domestic talent joins him, but there is a potential question as to whether this can truly bridge the divide and unite the team.
Thirdly, there should also be clear criteria for the promotion of coaches, especially since the level of soccer in China is relatively backward and the training and development of local coaches is of vital importance. Coaches should be selected from those who have obtained A-level certificates and are not allowed to enter the national soccer team as coaches without a license, which is undoubtedly a serious mockery and harm to the order of coach training. The configuration of this coaching staff is a spectacle, and the leaders seem to have a worrying view of the soccer profession.
The new National Football League coaches and staff are listed below:
Head Coach: Li Xiaopeng
Leader: Qi Jun
Management: Lida Du, Bei Zhao
Coaching staff: Jose Pep, Chen Yang, Yu Genwei, Li Jinyu, Gao Yao, Zhao Junzhe, Sun Jihai, Zheng Zhi, Sun Xiang, Shao Jiayi, Wang Liang, Au Chuliang, Li Leilei, Hu Yu, Owen Wilk.
