Updated: 2007-07-27 00:10

Former Chinese Super League side Liaoning coach Wang Hongli succumbed to sudden cardiac death (SCD), or cardiac arrest, on Thursday, news portal sina.com reported. He was 61.

Former Chinese Super League side Liaoning coach Wang Hongli. [File]

Wang collapsed all of a sudden after a tennis match at 8 am Thursday morning and was rushed to the Shenyang-based First Affiliated Hospital affiliated to China Medical University. He was announced dead after more than 30 minutes of emergency treatment, sina said.

He had been taking the helm at Liaoning starting 1994 to 2004. He devoted his last few years to China's footballing development, coaching clubs including Nanjing Youyou and Harbin Yiteng. In 2006, he was fired due to a lackluster performance at Yiteng.

His death is deemed to be another major setback to China's football after the national team's early exit at Asian Cup, crashing out at the hands of Uzbekistan.

Liaoning club manager Cheng Penghui said:" Wang looks strong and healthy in physical conditions. "

"On hearing his death, I cannot believe it is true. We had a comfortable cooperation on the management of the club." added Cheng.

Wang's team players include Li Tie and Zhao Junzhe, two of the key players in the national squad.

"We are saddened at the news and have to prepare a memorial ceremony to pay farewell to the revered coach," an unnamed source of the club told sina.