Reform to build nation's soft power via the world's most popular sport
China will choose its new national soccer coach from 45 candidates from 18 countries to boost the nation's unprecedented reform of the game, an effort to build soft power via the world's most popular sport.
Former Chinese national coach Gao Hongbo and foreign coaches of national teams and international clubs have applied since the offer was announced on January 8, the Xinhua News Agency reported Saturday.
Among the high-profile applicants are Brazil legend Zico, Italian coach Cesare Prandelli, and former Inter Milan coach Walter Mazzarri.
"Foreign coaches are more competitive and tend to outperform their Chinese counterparts in tactics and directing skills," Ma Dexing, deputy editor of Changsha-based magazine Titan Sports, told the Global Times.
China needs a prestigious coach with convincing accomplishments so he can fully implement his ideas and tactics without unnecessary mistrust from the Chinese Football Association (CFA), Ma said.
The name of the new coach is likely to be announced as early as March 24 when China is to play the first of two remaining matches in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, according to Xinhua.
The constantly underachieving national team sacked former national coach, Frenchman Alain Perrin, on January 8 after a disappointing run of results - including a 1-0 defeat to Qatar - leaving its World Cup qualifying campaign hanging by a thread.
Better systems
"On the one hand, foreign coaches may take longer to adjust to China's training and management system. On the other, we also need a better system to evaluate coaches, instead of just firing them after defeats," Beijing-based sports commentator Wang Dazhao told the Global Times.
Sending domestic coaches and players overseas to learn from international soccer clubs would be a more sustainable move, as they can integrate world-leading ideas and tactics with the system in China, Wang added.
The nation saw its latest defeat in soccer on January 15 when it lost 1-3 against the Syria under-23 team at the AFC U-23 Championship in Doha, Qatar, renewing criticism as to why the world's second-largest economy cannot win over a conflict-stricken country.
China unveiled ambitious plans in March 2015 to create 50,000 soccer schools by 2025, according to a Ministry of Education circular. The plan calls for a substantial increase in the number of young people playing soccer, with the number of "special soccer schools" raised to 20,000 after five years.
President Xi Jinping has reportedly attached great importance to soccer development and his overseas visits often involve soccer-related activities. Xi was presented with a jersey by David Beckham during a visit to the US in 2012 before he became Chinese leader. Xi also kicked a football at Croke Park in Dublin, the home of Gaelic football, during a visit to Ireland in February 2012, Xinhua reported.
There has been an increase in soccer-related programs and more live broadcasts of matches online and on TV. A reality show about young soccer players will be shown on China Education Television in June.
Pivotal sport
"Revitalizing soccer is a must to build China into a sports powerhouse as part of the Chinese dream. It is also what the people desire," said a statement issued last year by China's leading group of central reform, chaired by Xi.
No other sport has such global popularity, and a sport that has such a long history in China is also a significant battlefield for the country to build soft power globally, Luo Le, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times.
"There is a sense of belonging and self-recognition gained from playing soccer. It's also a brand that China can introduce to the world without a language barrier or political disturbance," Luo said.
Steven Dong, a professor at the Communication University of China's Academy of Media and Public Affairs, told the Global Times that the efforts to develop soccer are a significant and practical move to build a better image of China on the world stage.
Luo added that top soccer clubs and club players could be a trump card for China when the national men's team needs more time to develop.
There have been some thrilling achievements, including Chinese soccer club Guangzhou Evergrande winning the Asian Champions League in 2013 and 2015.
