BEIJING, June 26 -- Li Tie, the assistant coach of Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande, announced his resignation Friday through Tencent Microblog, a Chinese equivalent to twitter.

The former Chinese international has served for the defending champions since May 2012, and helped Evergrande claim three league titles and the 2013 AFC Champions League title.

"I sent my resignation to the club yesterday," Li said. "I have been working and studying hard during the last three years and one month. Thanks to Marcello Lippi, Fabio Cannavaro and Luiz Felipe Scolari for their trusts and appreciations about my work."

"I'm grateful to everybody in the club, and I will continue chasing my football dream," Li added.

Li has been known as a defensive midfielder in China. He helped China make it into the 2002 World Cup finals stage and ever played for English soccer clubs Everton and Sheffield United from 2002 to 2008. He had 34 appearances in English Premier League in total.

In the eyes of Li's supporters, Li's resignation means graduating from a school full of famous coaches all over the world. They thought Li, the assistant coach of team China, may take over a head coach position in the Chinese Super League.