Evergrande has been front and center of Chinese soccer over the past three years; especially since winning last year's Asian Champions League trophy.
From Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping to Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao up to the present day and Xi Jinping an enthusiasm for, and participation in, sport has helped make them appear more accessible.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is a sports enthusiast who enjoyed playing football and volleyball when younger and actively takes part in swimming and mountaineering.
The underperformed Chinese national football team were drawn with three-time champion Saudi Arabia, and strong contestants Uzbekistan and DPR Korea in what appears the tournament's most competitive group.
Portuguese football legend Luis Figo high-fives with teenage football players during an interaction session at the opening ceremony of the Figo football acedemy in Beijing, March 15, 2014.
China's Guizhou Renhe lost to Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 for its second straight loss in Group H while three-time Chinese champion Guangzhou Evergrande drew 1-1 with Yokohama Marinos in Group G in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday.
As China's national soccer team continues to produce uninspiring performances, officials are placing their hopes for the future in a shakeup of the soccer league system in schools.
China will expect to put an unconvincing qualifying campaign behind them and reach their 11th straight Asian Cup in front of new manager Alain Perrin when they play former champions Iraq on Wednesday.
Marcello Lippi has signed a new three-year with Chinese super league club Guangzhou Evergrande, the club officially announced on Friday.
Frenchman Allian Perrin has been named coach of the Chinese national soccer team, the Chinese Football Association announced on Friday.
Factbox on Alain Perrin, appointed head coach of Chinese national team on Friday
China's coach Perrin has set a rise up FIFA rankings and qualification for the World Cup as his targets.
China's new head coach elect Alain Perrin will reportedly fly to Dubai with the team and watch its game against Iraq on March 5, the final group match in qualifying for the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia.
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