China Football Development Foundation supports retired national team players in youth training

Reported by journalist Chen Yong On March 29 afternoon, the launch ceremony and book donation event for retired national team player Zong Lei's football technique and tactics comic book "Technology Reigns Supreme" took place at the National Football Youth Training Center. Relevant leaders from the Chinese Football Association and China Football Development Foundation attended, with former national team players such as Yang Chen, Zhao Junzhe, Xu Yunlong, and Zhang Yaokong present on site. Former national team players like Sun Jihai, Qu Bo, Yang Xu, Sun Ji, Sun Xiang, and Zong Lei all have practical experience and reflections on youth training. The high attention from the Chinese Football Association and China Football Development Foundation demonstrates comprehensive recognition and support for national team players engaging in youth training.

Zong Lei's book "Technology Reigns Supreme" states directly: In the ever-changing football matches, without technique, there can be no tactics; if only possessing singular technique without integration with tactics, failure is inevitable. Technical ability + tactical decision-making = success. Chinese Football Association Chairman Song Kai wrote in the preface: "Chinese football has taken a detour, one profound lesson being the loss of the 'technical soul'. The value of this book lies in sincerely returning to the 'fundamentals'. Hope this book can become a spark, igniting more children's desire for technique and offense, and illuminating our journey back to technical football."

▲Zong Lei and his "Technology Reigns Supreme"

While Song Kai's open letter to national team players was released, many players have already been comprehensively involved in Chinese football youth training, including but not limited to establishing youth training institutions, becoming youth training coaches, and supporting youth training development. In the China Football Development Foundation's "Social Football Youth Training Quality Improvement Action Plan", youth training institutions founded by former national team players received full support, including but not limited to Sun Jihai's "HiBall Youth" HiBall Football Club, Qu Bo's Chasing Youth Football Sports Club, Yang Xu's Shanghai Yang Xu Football Club, and Sun Ji & Sun Xiang's Shanghai Jixiang Football Sports Club. During the national training camp of the "Social Football Youth Training Quality Improvement Action Plan" held by China Football Development Foundation on August 27 last year, Qu Bo and Yang Xu were present.

At that training camp, Qu Bo stated that improving youth training quality is key to Chinese football development; recent years have seen football practitioners focusing on training and quality enhancement, with more high-quality matches emerging, which is encouraging. Yang Xu focused on training children aged 6 to 12, emphasizing "movement, control, dribbling" technique drills, precisely addressing the weakest aspect in Chinese youth football development. "Among players' fundamental abilities, technique is the root, while physique, speed, football intelligence etc. are the trunk and branches of the tree; without the root, everything else loses significant meaning," Yang Xu said. Yang Xu also mentioned that besides players studying abroad, coaches studying abroad is important; a month-long observational learning can acquire much knowledge.

▲Qu Bo speaking at the opening ceremony of China Football Development Foundation's "Social Football Youth Training Quality Improvement Action Plan" national training camp

Sun Jihai, with glorious overseas experience, has persistently engaged in youth training over many years; his founded HiBall Football Club is one of China's excellent youth training institutions. In early 2024, he initiated the "Select Future Football Plan" which continues operating; for each "Select Future" event, Sun Jihai personally guides the selection process.

On March 28, Sun Jihai's "Select Future Football Plan" 2026 national youth training selection Hebei first station event was held in Zanhuang County, Shijiazhuang City. The "Select Future" selection adopts a multi-assessment model of "standardized testing + practical matches + expert evaluation", reviewed by AFC Professional Level, A-Level coaches and senior youth training experts. "Youth training is the foundation of Chinese football, and talent selection is the cornerstone within that foundation," Sun Jihai stated.

▲"Select Future" enters Shijiazhuang Zanhuang

Besides establishing youth training clubs, more national team players engage in various youth training institutions as coaches. For example, Han Peng, Zhou Haibin, and Wang Qiang previously all joined Taishan youth training, entering Luneng Football School to lead teams; now Han Peng is head coach of Shandong Taishan team, Zhou Haibin is head coach of China U15 national team, and Wang Qiang is preparing the Taishan 09梯队 for next year's three-ball sports games. Yu Dabao serves as Beijing Guoan youth training coach, last year leading the team to participate in the "Kashgar Cup" international football invitation tournament, receiving enthusiastic pursuit from Xinjiang youth. Current Shenzhen New Peng City head coach Chen Tao previously served as Shenzhen U15 team head coach; current national team head coach Shao Jiayi previously continuously served as youth national team leader and assistant coach. Zhang Yaokong has been involved in youth training since retirement, last year leading the team to win the National Games men's U18 group championship.

As the top talents in Chinese football, national team players clearly have greater development space. Starting with youth training, or fully rooting in youth training, is一方面 their responsibility as national team players,另一方面 beneficial for their后续发展.