Chinese soccer fans regularly follow matches in the English Premier League. (Photo : www.thefiscaltimes.com)
Young football players in Shanghai may soon be coached by major English Premier League coaches from clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
Several coaches have shown interest in extending their coaching careers in China, stating moderate or low salary requirements, according to a report by Shanghai-based news website thepaper.cn.
Coaches from three different football clubs appeared at a Friday graduation ceremony of a program on soccer capital management at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
"The coaches are positive about the future of Chinese soccer," said Britain's deputy consul general in Shanghai, Matthew Forbes.
Shanghai is one of the leaders of China's school soccer project, with 280 primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities having joined municipal football leagues.
The city will also set up four training camps in each district for those under 11, 13, 15 and 17 years old. The camps are set to recruit around 3,000 players all over the city.
To complement the camps, four "elite soccer teams" with 25 members each will be established in every district. Coaching teams will include a technical director, a chief coach, an assistant coach and a goalkeeping coach.
A special fund will be allocated for the program, and each district government is required to give a contribution that will match the central government, according to the report.
Earlier this year, China set up a comprehensive soccer reform program, with nurturing young talent being a key point. By 2017, around 20,000 schools will have new soccer pitches and training facilities.
Foreign clubs and former international players are even getting in on the action.
Retired Brazilian football player Ronaldo has announced plans of opening soccer schools in China.
