As night falls and Christmas dawns on the Chinese mainland, a piece of heavy news spreads quickly in the soccer circle in the early hours of December 25 - Serbian head coach Milan Ristic of Chinese Super League powerhouse Meizhou Hakka has released a statement on his departure from the team via social media, signaling that he will say goodbye to the team and will no longer be at the helm of the team to welcome the new season. season.
In his farewell letter, Ristic was emotional: "People of Hakka, my fans, the last three years have been so wonderful. You have given me endless energy. I hope to repay you with my loyalty and dedication, I will always be your warrior and you will always be in my heart. Although we are parting today, I hope we will meet again in the future. Goodbye Hakka, thank you and my love will always remain the same." The 42-year-old coach also shared a picture of a tribute to the fans, conveying his appreciation for them.
Ristic has been at the helm of Meizhou Hakka since February 2021, and in the 2021 season he led the team to 75 points in 34 rounds of the league, although they ended up in second place, but Wuhan Sanzhen overtook them in the final round. 2022 season, under his guidance, Meizhou Hakka ranked ninth in the Chinese Super League as a "Little Giant", writing a new chapter in the team's history, even surpassing traditional giants Shanghai Shenhua. In the 2022 season, under his guidance, Meizhou Hakka finished ninth in the Chinese Super League as a "Little Giant", writing a new chapter in the team's history and even surpassing traditional giants Shanghai Shenhua. 2023 season, Meizhou Hakka continued to maintain its high level of performance, finishing 11th in the league and narrowly escaping the relegation zone.
After Ristic left Meizhou Hakka, his next stop became the center of attention. Previously, it was said that the Serbian coach is expected to join Ma Qingdao West Coast. Regardless of where he will go in the future, with his success in Meizhou, I believe he won't be short of olive branches from Chinese league clubs.
