Notables who have influenced Chinese football

Marcello Lippi

The former Italian World Cup-winning coach and five-time Italian Serie A titleholder has proved his coaching magic in China by steering Guangzhou Evergrande to two domestic league titles and one Asian Football Confederation Champions League trophy within three years. His advanced coaching philosophy and professional management approach inspired the Chinese football community. Evergrande announced a three-year contract extension with Lippi to keep him at the Cantonese club until 2017.

Alain Perrin

The former top French league club manager, Perrin has stepped into a hot-potato post after being appointed as the new head coach of China's men's national team in February. Perrin replaced Spaniard Jose Antonio Camacho, who was fired after a string of defeats that included a humiliating 5-1 loss to Thailand in 2013. Perrin has shouldered mountainous pressure to drive the lackluster Chinese team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The Frenchman used to coach French Ligue 1 clubs Marseille and Lyon before shifting his focus to coach Asian clubs in 2010.

Bora Milutinovic

After leading China to its first and only World Cup finals appearance in 2002, the Mexican-Serbian coach became the most recognized figure in China with his popularity soaring to match that of some entertainment celebrities. Although Chinese media doubted his coaching ability, citing the exceptional talent of the 2002 squad, the 69-year-old, who led five different national teams to World Cup finals, remains upbeat and is active at many soccer promotions in China.

Wang Jianlin

The chairman of Dalian Wanda Group, one of China's largest real estate developers, announced the signing of an agreement with the Chinese Football Association in 2011 to inject 500 million yuan ($77.3 million) to boost the sport in China in youth development, domestic league upgrades, referee training and invitations to world-class foreign coaches to help the men's and women's national teams. The billionaire's involvement in soccer has inspired more business tycoons such as Evergrande boss Xu Jiayin to invest in the underdeveloped sport in China.

Wei Di

Wei, a former water-sports administrator, boldly accepted his appointment in 2010 to replace Nan Yong, the former chief of CFA who stepped down following corruption scandals, to lead soccer's governing body. Wrapping his hands around a totally new sport, Wei seemed to be faced with a virtually impossible task - improving the game's tarnished image from the bottom up. Wei, who had steered China's canoeing squads to Olympic medals, struggled to produce immediate results, but his practical approach and media-friendly style earned him praise from domestic media and fans.

Zheng Zhi

The national veteran and Guangzhou Evergrande captain won the prestigious award of Asian Football Confederation's Player of Year after leading Evergrande to the AFC Champions League title, China's first Asian trophy in 23 years, in November 2013. Zheng was the first Chinese player to win the award in 12 years after former national teammate Fan Zhiyi did so in 2001. Boasting versatile skills in multiple positions, Zheng was a hit with fans during nearly three seasons at England club Charlton Athletic and a one-year stint with Scottish giant Celtic before returning to China to join the Guangzhou club in 2010.

Zhu Jun

The online gaming businessman and former owner of Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua stirred an international sensation in 2012 after signing former Chelsea players Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba, two of the biggest stars ever in Chinese league history. The bold signing drew lots of attention to the Chinese league from around the world but ended in disappointment with both stars leaving after the season because of delayed payment of wages. Zhu's business struggled in the big-spending surge and he sold the club to real estate company Shanghai Greenland in January.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 06/20/2014 page25)