Ma Yuan’an is officially serving as an advisor to the China national team. Forced to step down in 2002 after China’s shock defeat to Korea DPR at the AFC Women’s Championship and a disappointing display at the Four Nation invitational in Guangzhou, Old Ma handed over the reins of the national team to “Ma Junior,” who was coach of all-conquering Shanghai.

Since then, 46-year-old “Ma Junior” and 58-year-old “Old Ma” - names which are used by the team to differentiate the two - have worked together in a unique partnership. Their common love for and sense of duty to Chinese women’s football is what makes the combination of the two coaches work.

Impressive accomplishments

Old Ma’s contributions to Chinese women’s football are unequalled. He served his apprenticeship as assistant coach to Shang Ruihua at the first FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991. In the group phase that year, China finished first in their group with two wins and one tie, but were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Sweden.

Thereafter, Ma Yuan’an took over as coach and led his country at the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In the group phase, China first fought to a 3-3 tie with holders USA, before defeating Australia 4-2 and Denmark 3-1. Then in the quarter-finals they exacted revenge on Sweden by edging them 1-0. And although Germany proved a step too far in the semi-finals, the Steel Roses had shown the world they were a major force in women’s football.

Old Ma continued to make the team his own, experimenting with formations and players. He also stressed training and hard work which combined nicely with his team’s natural skills.

After several years under Old Ma, China had become a technically modern, spirited world-class team, and China finished runners-up behind the United States at both the 1996 Olympics and the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

After the Four Nation invitational in Guangzhou in early 2002, “Ma Junior” Liangxing was essentially the only option as a replacement for Ma Yuan’an, whose team had also not done well at the 2000 Olympics.

Twelve years Ma Yuan’an’s junior, Ma Liangxing is better suited to where women’s football has come; he accepts new concepts faster and is more able to get along with the emerging generation of energetic younger players. Under his direction, Shanghai captured nearly every championship since the establishment of the China Super League in 1994, and veterans Sun Wen and Pu Wei both grew up under his leadership.

Different personalities

If the players have more affection for Ma Junior, they have more respect for Old Ma.

When Old Ma was leading the side, he would set high standards for himself and his players. He was a stern coach, and players tended to keep him at a distance. Yet Ma Yuan’an is a charming and witty man in private. Foreign football administrators have described him as “fun” and “very capable.” German head coach Tina Theune-Meyer said to reporters: “Ma Yuan’an is very witty. I like him a lot!”

Old Ma inevitably had a few run-ins with the players over the years, but they never held grudges for long because the understanding was that the team was always more important.

And although Old Ma may be an advisor now, the players still hold him in the same respect. During a recent practice, Zhao Lihong naughtily kicked the ball at the former coach. Little did she expect Old Ma’s reflexes to be so quick, and he trapped the ball with one foot. Laughing, he said, “So you want to play that game with me?”

His successor, Ma Liangxing has a very different way of dealing with the team. He can joke and be friendly with the girls in private, but shows no mercy during practice. Ma Junior sternly criticized Sun Wen just before the start of the first warm-up game against Nigeria for “not shooting enough … Forwards are supposed to score. If you want to score you have to shoot.” After the scolding, Sun Wen shot on sight during the game.

The same ambitions

China’s loss to the US on penalty kicks at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup still plays on Old Ma’s mind.

“Fan Yunjie’s unforgettable header in extra time got me excited, but only for an instant. After that, I immediately felt it was not meant to be,” he said.

After leading China for over 10 years, and taking part in all three FIFA Women’s World Cups, Old Ma is understandably dissatisfied never to have won the world’s showpiece tournament. His impressive record goes some of the way to explaining why, even after leaving his position as head coach, he still holds an important place in the hearts of the players, and still gives his all to the team.

“One day we will win the World Cup.” Old Ma insists.

Eerily reminiscent is Ma Junior’s statement about the upcoming tournament: “Our goal is to lift the World Cup.”

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