Tongliang Long undergoes a coaching change, with Zhang Wailong emerging as the closest candidate among many options.

Reporter Lu Mi reports. On September 21, Chongqing Tongliang Long lost 0-1 at home to direct promotion competitor Guangzhou Leopards, experiencing their first back-to-back defeat this season. Their record of only one victory in the last four league rounds during this critical phase of promotion has ignited fan frustration. That night, the club convened an urgent meeting to plan future actions, focusing mainly on whether Salvador remains suitable to lead the team. On the evening of the 22nd, Chongqing Tongliang Long officially announced the departure of Salvador and his coaching staff, with a new coach expected to be confirmed soon. Among the domestic and foreign coaches approached by the club, the Korean veteran Zhang Wailong, who is well-acquainted with Chongqing football, is the leading candidate. He arrived in Chongqing last night to negotiate contract details with the club.

Tongliang Long’s recent form has caused considerable debate among fans. With three losses in four matches and only seven rounds left in the league, the points gap with their closest competitors is narrowing. On the evening of the 21st, they hosted direct promotion rival Guangzhou Leopards and, despite a 5-1 away win in the first leg, were unexpectedly shut out at home. There has been significant controversy over Salvador’s player selections and tactical system. After the match, fans expressed their dissatisfaction with chants calling for his dismissal throughout the game.

On the night of the match, Tongliang Long’s club held a late meeting to objectively analyze recent results and consider fan sentiment. Changing the coach at this stage has its pros and cons, but the club acknowledged that Salvador’s tactics had become somewhat rigid in recent rounds. The team faces two consecutive away games against Yanbian Longding and Guangxi Pingguo Haliao, where any slip-up could jeopardize their promotion chances. Therefore, the club decided that same night to replace the coaching staff. On the evening of the 22nd, the club officially announced Salvador and his team’s departure.

In the official statement, Chongqing Tongliang Long wrote: “After friendly consultations, Mr. Salvador and his coaching team members: Po Wu Rodriguez, Daniel Carmona, and Niu Zhenning will no longer serve as head coach or related coaching staff for Chongqing Tongliang Long’s first team. During his tenure, Mr. Salvador led the team to a record of 15 wins, 4 draws, and 6 losses in the China League One and FA Cup competitions. We thank Mr. Salvador and his team for their contributions and wish them all the best in the future. Meanwhile, the club will thoroughly review recent issues and promptly finalize the new coaching team to fully focus on the remaining seven league rounds.”

Simultaneously with the announcement of the previous coaching staff’s departure, a plane from Korea landed at Jiangbei International Airport, where the familiar Korean veteran coach Zhang Wailong was greeted by some fans and club staff as he exited the arrivals hall. During the search for a new coach, Tongliang Long considered multiple options; for example, during the match against Guangzhou Leopards, Fan Zhiyi, Xie Hui, and Japanese coach Takumi Kōhata were present in the VIP section. However, a Korean coach familiar with Chongqing football and who has formed a strong bond with the city’s fans is clearly the top choice. After the dissolution of Liangjiang Athletic, Zhang Wailong left China with regret but has since closely followed Chinese football and Chongqing football in particular.

If negotiations proceed smoothly without unexpected issues, Zhang Wailong is expected to meet the team as soon as today and quickly begin his work. The coaching change at Chongqing Tongliang Long signals that the China League One has entered its final sprint phase, with the club strongly committed to achieving promotion to the top tier as their ultimate goal.

Finally, the Tongliang Long official statement to fans read: “After the defeat to Guangzhou Leopards, the voices from our fans come from a place of passion and serve as encouragement for us to regroup. We humbly accept all criticism and suggestions because the belief that ‘without fans, football loses its meaning’ is deeply ingrained in everyone at the club. We also apologize to our fans. Please trust that every member of the team is giving their all for victory every day. Most of them are around 20 years old, possessing both youthful passion and unfiltered sincerity. Like you, they genuinely want to contribute to Chongqing football and never lack the courage to fight and strive.”