Chinese football

Branko Ivankovic has been dismissed as head coach of the Chinese men’s national football team after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup final qualifying round. This decision, the CFA cited the automatic termination of his contract, due to the team’s poor performance. His brief tenure, with a win rate below 30%, further highlights the program’s instability, which has seen 14 managerial changes in 23 years, reflecting the ongoing struggles of Chinese football.

Former Chinese national team player Xu Liang reignites debate on footballers’ salaries. He argues that top players’ earnings (around $414,000 annually post-tax) are justified, comparing them to other competitive industries. Xu stresses the importance of evaluating a range of player compensation, not just the elite’s. He defends salaries as separate from performance criticism, recognizing that elite players have earned their position.

Aleksandar Janković, the U20 coach, has been appointed interim coach of the Chinese national football team to lead them in the East Asian Cup. This follows the termination of the previous coach’s contract due to the team’s failure to advance in World Cup qualifiers. With a history of success leading youth teams, including recent tournament wins, Janković faces the challenge of stabilizing a team marked by frequent managerial changes, the current appointment is the 14th in 23 years.