2025-11-17 17:01
Why Chinese Football Rym Struggles and How It Can Finally Succeed
As I sit here watching the latest disappointing performance from the Chinese national football team, I can't help but reflect on why our football system continues to struggle while other Asian nations like Japan and South Korea consistently produce world-class talent. Having followed Chinese football for over two decades, I've seen countless reforms come and go, yet the fundamental issues remain. The recent basketball game between Ginebra and Meralco actually provides an interesting parallel - Brownlee's performance with 23 points and 12 rebounds was statistically impressive, but his eight turnovers, including that critical one in the final possession, ultimately cost his team the game. This reminds me so much of China's football development - we often focus on surface-level achievements while ignoring the fundamental flaws that undermine our progress.
The journey of Chinese football reform began in earnest with the professionalization of the league in 1994, and I remember the initial excitement when we qualified for the 2002 World Cup. But since that brief moment of glory, we've been stuck in what feels like an endless cycle of disappointment. The Chinese Super League has seen massive investments, with clubs spending over $2 billion on foreign players between 2016-2019 alone. Yet our national team's FIFA ranking has hovered around 75th for the past decade, barely moving despite all this financial commitment. I've personally visited several youth academies across China, and while the facilities are often world-class, the coaching methodologies and development systems remain outdated compared to European standards.
Looking at the reference game statistics, what struck me was how individual brilliance - Brownlee's 23 points and 12 rebounds - couldn't compensate for fundamental flaws in execution. Similarly in Chinese football, we've occasionally produced talented individuals, but our systemic issues with player development consistently undermine team performance. The eight turnovers Brownlee committed mirror the structural weaknesses in China's football pyramid. Our youth development system only reaches about 50,000 registered players aged 6-12, compared to Japan's 800,000 and Germany's 1.3 million. These numbers are staggering when you consider our population advantage, and they explain why we struggle to find quality players.
The parallel extends to how we manage talent development. Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos, and Troy Rosario each scoring 17 points demonstrates balanced contribution, whereas Chinese football often relies too heavily on individual foreign stars in domestic leagues rather than developing cohesive team play. I've noticed this pattern repeatedly in CSL matches - teams built around expensive foreign imports while local players play supporting roles. This creates a dependency that hurts the national team's development. The Chinese Football Association's recent financial regulations attempting to curb excessive spending have reduced foreign player salaries by approximately 40% since 2020, but we're yet to see this translate into better national team performance.
What really frustrates me is that we've known about these issues for years but implementation of meaningful reform has been inconsistent. The government's football development plan released in 2016 outlined ambitious targets including having 50,000 football schools by 2025 and making China a football superpower by 2050. Yet when I visit local schools, many still prioritize academic performance over athletic development, and the infrastructure for youth football remains inadequate outside major cities. We're trying to build a skyscraper without properly laying the foundation first.
The solution isn't just about throwing more money at the problem. We need to completely overhaul our approach to youth development, focusing on technical skills and football intelligence from early ages rather than the current emphasis on physical attributes. Countries like Belgium and Iceland have demonstrated how systematic reform can transform national teams within a decade. China needs to develop its own football philosophy rather than constantly changing approaches based on short-term results. We should establish a consistent coaching curriculum and ensure that all youth coaches, from grassroots to professional academies, are properly trained and certified.
Infrastructure development is another critical area. While major cities have decent facilities, we need to build approximately 20,000 new football pitches nationwide specifically for youth development. The government's current plan aims for 70,000 pitches by 2030, but we're only at about 35,000 currently. More importantly, we need to make these facilities accessible to children from all socioeconomic backgrounds. I've seen too many talented kids from rural areas who never get the opportunity to develop their skills because of financial barriers.
The commercial aspects also need rethinking. The CSL's broadcasting rights were sold for approximately $1.2 billion for the 2020-2025 cycle, but this revenue isn't effectively redistributed to support youth development. We should mandate that clubs invest at least 15% of their revenue into youth academies and establish clearer pathways for young players to progress to first teams. The current system where clubs frequently change ownership and direction creates instability that hampers long-term planning.
What gives me hope is the growing interest in football among Chinese youth. Participation in school football programs has increased by about 25% since 2018, and more parents are recognizing the value of sports education. We're beginning to see the emergence of technically proficient young players who've benefited from exposure to international coaching methods. The key is to sustain this momentum through consistent policies and investment in coaching education. If we can develop our own identity and playing style while building a robust youth development system, I believe Chinese football can finally achieve the success that has eluded us for so long. The journey will require patience and persistence, but the potential reward - seeing China compete consistently at the highest level - makes the effort worthwhile.
