Li Tie to lead Chinese men's team in EAFF E-1 football Championship

BEIJING - Former Everton midfielder and Chinese international Li Tie will lead China's men's team as the head coach in EAFF E-1 football Championship in December this year, the Chinese Football Association announced here on Thursday.

According to the CFA, the regular players of the senior national team and Olympic team have not been listed in Li's 27-man roster for the traditional East Asian football tournament, in consideration of the 2022 World Cup and 2020 Olympic qualifiers.

"The CFA's decision is for the better development of young Chinese coaches, which gives them the opportunity to practice coaching on the international stage," said the Chinese football governing body.

The 42-year-old Li, who served as an assistant coach for Marcello Lippi in Guangzhou Evergrande and China's national team for a long time, is now the head coach of the Chinese Super League club Wuhan Zall, currently sixth in the league table with three rounds remaining.

Li and his players will assemble on Nov 3 in Chinese central city Wuhan for a 10-day training camp. The EAFF E-1 Football Championship will kick off on Dec 10 in South Korea.

Following is the 27-man roster:

Goalkeepers: Zou Dehai(Beijing Guoan), Wu Yan(Henan Jianye), Dong Chunyu(Wuhan Zall);

Defenders: Yu Dabao(Beijing Guoan), Yu Yang(Beijing Guoan), Shi Ke(Shanghai SIPG), Wang Shenchao(Shanghai SIPG), Mei Fang(Guangzhou Evergrande), Tang Miao(Guangzhou R&F), Jiang Zhipeng(Hebei China Fortune), Jin Yangyang(Hebei China Fortune), Li Ang(Jiangsu Suning), Zhao Honglue(Tianjin Teda), Ming Tian(Wuhan Zall)

Midfielders: Cai Huikang(Shanghai SIPG), Li Shenglong(Shanghai SIPG), Feng Jing(Chongqing Lifan), Zheng Kaimu(Tianjin Teda), Wang Shangyuan(Henan Jianye), Li Hang(Wuhan Zall), Liu Yun(Wuhan Zall), Cao Yunding(Shanghai Shenhua), Jin Jingdao(Shandong Luneng), Wu Xinghan(Shandong Luneng);

Forwards: Lyu Wenjun(Shanghai SIPG), Dong Xuesheng(Hebei China Fortune), Tan Long(Changchun Yatai).