On a late afternoon on May 13, Shijiazhuang Kung Fu Team's 40-year-old legend, Wang Song, faced the Soccer Night cameras to talk about life after retirement and all things soccer.
Curious, the reporter asked, "What is the difference between 17-year-olds then and 17-year-olds now?"
Wang Song pondered for a moment and slowly said, "We were all the top of the top at that time, embarking on the road to professional players. Nowadays, maybe it's because there are fewer people playing soccer, but the truth is not that simple. Those who have survived the fierce competition have many good qualities. There are fewer people playing soccer today, but the selection is not extensive. Youth training models and institutions are uneven, making professional players no longer the cream of the crop; they are at best 'the best of the good'. For example, willpower qualities such as toughness, hard work and perseverance are nowhere near as good as they were in our day."
Faced with the question of whether he has ever considered becoming a head coach, Wang Song frankly said: "Being a coach is a difficult task. As a player, I can show my understanding of soccer on the field, but as a coach, my team may not be able to fully express my tactical thinking. I may like the role of coach in the future, but for now, I'm still focused on my identity as a player."
The reporter then asked, "After all these years, is the soccer world still accepting of candid people like you?"
Wang Song replied, "My physical condition is fine at the competitive level, but there are not many platforms willing to give me a chance. Many fans may think that many teams are competing for me, but it's not true. At this age group, many people will not consider me as one of their own, will not trust me, and will think that I am insubordinate and will not affect the team. Therefore, I would also like to thank the Kung Fu team for giving me this opportunity and being willing to accept me at my age."
Speaking of retirement, Wang Song said, "If I am asked to suddenly stop playing soccer, I will certainly not give up easily. But if I lose my ability at the competitive level, even if I'm asked to continue playing, I'll choose not to play again. I wouldn't want that. Being like Chira Miura in Japan is definitely not what I'm looking for. I know I'm counting down the days of my soccer career, but I don't know exactly how long I have left. I'll just give it my all and cherish the time remaining in each game."
