Deputy minister of State General Adminstration of Sport of China Du Zhaocai, who is in charge of football told FIFA.com recently that Chinese Football Association (CFA) plans to imported 100 foreign youth coaches by 2019 to help educate youth talents, strengthen youth football training system across the country.

"Education and sports are intertwined. To promote campus football development, educational departments should focus on the popularization of campus football while professional organizations like football associations, clubs and youth football training centers at all levels should focus on improving football techniques and tactics. With cooperation, we will make youth football training system better and stronger," said Du.

Eager to learn, CFA introduced top-level coaches to upgrade its managerial skills. The Italian coach winning the FIFA World Cup champion, Marcello Lippi was appointed head coach of the men's senior team in 2016 and was replaced by his compatriot Fabio Cannavaro in March 2019.

It is obvious that the keys to joining the international rank are to develop the youth and the local coaches to realize the long-term goals. One is to increase the nationwide football population and the other is to assist the national team qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

As a result, China kicked off the 100 foreign coach project last year, meaning 100 quality foreign coaches will be hired and dispatched to different youth training centers to develop the young talents.

"Our football reform is underpinned by youth development," noted Du.

As CFA further lifts the admission standards for professional club league in 2019, by linking the club youth training with admission to leagues at all levels, to league results, club investment, senior team registration and allowed quota. Then each club needs to build up management over youth training. Meanwhile, learning from the practices of the main European leagues such as the English Premier League and the German Bundesliga, CFA requires that squad list submitted by each club in professional leagues at all levels should include at least two U21 players it trained. After a few years, the number will be around six to eight U21 players, to secure enough successors on the play field as well as to finalize a professional youth training model.

The 3+1 mode is a major feature of the 100-strong program, meaning each foreign coach has three local assistants to mentor. Since CFA plans to comprehensively promote youth development, foreign coaches are extended to scouts, fitness coaches and goalkeeping coaches.

"This mode will secure a success," added Du. "Our local coaches will gain experiences by interacting with these foreign experts. Youth development is a long-term task and CFA will try to complete a youth development system of our own."