China's national team coach, Zhu Guanghu, has officially handed in his resignation. The Beijing Youth Daily said Zhu's faxed resignation to the China Football Association - coming after his initial refusal to quit - sets the stage for the search for his successor, who is very likely to be a foreigner. "I did not complete my task, failing to live up to the hopes of the fans and the trust of the leaders, and I would like here to express my apology to the fans," the paper quoted Zhu's fax as saying.
Zhu's resignation follows a shock 3-0 loss to Uzbekistan at the Asian Cup last month, setting off criticism in the media, with one paper calling Zhu "a giant in speech, but a dwarf in action." Zhu took full responsibility for the loss but remained defiant, refusing to step down. "I will not leave football," he said then. He appeared to clarify that statement in his resignation letter, saying that "this temporary setback will not defeat me. I will never leave Chinese football."
Zhu's resignation follows a shock 3-0 loss to Uzbekistan at the Asian Cup last month, setting off criticism in the media, with one paper calling Zhu "a giant in speech, but a dwarf in action." Zhu took full responsibility for the loss but remained defiant, refusing to step down. "I will not leave football," he said then. He appeared to clarify that statement in his resignation letter, saying that "this temporary setback will not defeat me. I will never leave Chinese football."