After losing all three matches in the East Asian Cup earlier this week, China’s women soccer team “The Steel Roses” faces another setback with the resignation of head coach Hao Wei.
"I have been feeling entangled during the [East Asian Cup] tournament, I want to win the games. I feel my ability is not strong enough and I want to enrich my knowhow," Hao told the Xinhua News Agency on Sunday. "Maybe it's a good idea to learn from more experienced coaches."
The Chinese team suffered a 2-0 upset against Japan on Saturday night, following their 1-0 defeat to South Korea and 3-2 loss to eventual champions North Korea.
Hao attributed their string of losses, the worst result in the East Asian Cup since women's competition was added to the program in 2005, to mental and physical exhaustion.
"They played the domestic league after the [FIFA Women's] World Cup and some of them also took part in the World University Games," he said.
Hao's resignation and the team's recent performance doused the enthusiasm that flared up after the Steel Roses' finish at top eight during the FIFA World Cup in Canada in June.
China completed their first trip to the World Cup in eight years with one win, one draw and two losses, which was widely viewed as a sign that the country is back in the soccer world map.
The Chinese women's soccer team are best known for bagging the silver medal at the 1996 Olympics and claiming the runners-up position at the 1999 World Cup, with both times losing to the U.S.
But since the start of the 21st century, the national team has been on a downward slump, even failing to qualify for the 2011 World Cup in Germany prior to their stunning performance in China.
With Hao's departure and no official replacement in sight, fans have turned to former international striker Sun Wen, member of China's 1996 and 1999 World Cup squad, as a potential successor.
Sun, however, played down the possibility.
"Hao's leaving is a big loss for the team. The girls have potential and at same time need to steel themselves up with more competition," Sun said to the press on Sunday. "But I don't think I will be the one who can coach them. I prefer jobs behind the scenes."