Li Bing to coach Sichuan club
Former China international aims high for Sichuan soccer
Former China striker Li Bing has been named head coach of League Two club Sichuan Annapurna, the Chinese third-tier side announced Monday.
Li quit his job at Chinese Super League (CSL) team Guizhou Zhicheng. He was head coach and general manager of Zhicheng in 2016, and was named the best head coach of the year after leading them to a runners-up finish in League Two and promotion to the top flight. In May 2017, Spaniard Gregorio Manzano took over as head coach.
“After friendly negotiation, Mr Li Bing will not be general manager of Guizhou Zhizheng as of January 1, 2018,” Zhicheng said in a statement.
“He will be head coach of Sichuan Annapurna from January 1, 2018 in an effort to improve the soccer level in Southwest China.”
The Guizhou club paid tribute to Li in the statement.
“After leading the club into the CSL, he stepped down from the coaching role and focused on youth development of the team. He has made an outstanding contribution to Zhicheng and the development of soccer in Guizhou Province. We thank him for all his efforts and the contribution he has made and hope he can have further success in his new role.”
Li expressed sadness at leaving Zhicheng in an open letter to the fans posted on the club’s website.
“Without your full support, the club wouldn’t have come this far,” Li said.
“Although I’m leaving the club, my heart will always be with you. If the club have need of me one day, I will return without hesitation.”
Li played for Liaoning Yuandong, Guangdong Hongyuan and Sichuan Quanxing in the Chinese Jia-A League, which was the top flight in China before the launch of the CSL in 2004. He also spent a short loan spell at German club Kickers Offenbach. He played a total of 204 games in Jia-A, scoring 75 goals.
In his days at Quanxin from 1996 to 2002, Li made 141 appearances and scored 52 goals and is still the top scorer in the history of Sichuan soccer.
In a Monday press conference in Dujiangyan, where Annapurna are located, Li expressed his ambition for his new club.
“Sichuan deserves a topflight team in Chinese soccer,” Li told reporters.
“I hope we can take the club to a higher level in the next few years with all of you.”
Sichuan fans thanked their hero on social media.
“Li is capable of coaching a League One club, but he chose a League Two side. This is out of his love for Sichuan soccer. Thank you so much,” a fan commented on popular soccer site Dongqiudi.
“It’s time for Sichuan soccer to thrive again!” wrote another fan on Sina Weibo.
A former hotbed of Chinese soccer with one of the best fanbases in China, Sichuan Province hasn’t had a top-flight soccer team in many years.