China has appointed former international midfielder Shao Jiayi as the new head coach of the men’s national football team, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced on Wednesday, marking a new chapter following yet another disappointing World Cup campaign.
In a statement, the CFA said Shao, 45, was chosen after evaluating “the current situation of Chinese men’s football and the long-term construction and development of the national team.”
A seasoned football figure, Shao spent nine years in Germany during his playing career and has since transitioned into coaching. He has managed Chinese Super League side Qingdao West Coast since last year, in addition to previously leading China’s U19 and U20 teams and serving as assistant coach for the senior squad.
Capped 41 times for the national team, Shao featured in two matches during China’s only World Cup appearance in 2002. He concluded his playing career in 2015 with Beijing Guoan.
Shao replaces Branko Ivankovic, who was dismissed in June after China’s failed 2026 World Cup qualification bid, which saw the team finish second-to-last in their Asian qualifying group, recording seven losses in ten games.
Currently ranked 93rd in the FIFA world rankings, the Chinese men’s team continues to face mounting criticism from fans frustrated by years of underperformance and ongoing corruption scandals within the sport.
With Shao’s appointment, the CFA hopes to inject new energy and rebuild confidence in a team long seen as a symbol of China’s unfulfilled football ambitions.
