Soccer: New Korean coach for Chinese women's 'yellow team'

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Park Tae-ha of South Korea has been appointed as the coach of the Chinese national women's soccer team (Yellow Team) and his compatriot Kim Chang-back has become the team's physical training consultant, according to a statement released by the Chinese Soccer Association (CFA) on Wednesday.

The association in 2017 carried out a "dual track" reform consisting of the Yellow Team and Red Team to boost female soccer players' strengths in competition. Red Team as the main team focuses on the international competitions while the Yellow Team as the reserve team aims to improve players' skills and tactics and select talents from various domestic matches.

The two teams operate independently and promote each other through competition. Along with U-20 and U-17, the CFA aims to inspire more young and talented Chinese female soccer players to enhance their capabilities and promote the sport across China and the world.

Coach Park Tae-ha shakes hands with his players one by one after the team's 3-0 win over Guizhou Hengfeng during a CSL match in Yanji City, northeast China's Jilin Province, November 4, 2017. /VCG Photo

The 50-year-old former professional soccer player Park has a profound coaching experience. He previously served as reserve coach of Korean League side Pohang Steelers from 2005 to 2007, coach of South Korean men's national team between 2007 and 2011, coach of Seoul soccer club from 2012 to 2015, and head coach of the Yanbian FC in the Chinese Super League (CSL) between 2015 and 2018.

Kim, 63, started his coaching career in 1980 in his own country. After managing Korean teams for over two decades, the field hockey coaching master took the helm of Chinese women's field hockey team in 1999.

Kim Chang-back during a training in Shanghai in 2003. /VCG Photo

He coached the Chinese team to qualify for its first-ever Olympic appearance just a few months after he took over the job. The squad finished fifth in its Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Games and claimed a silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, surging a growing popularity of the field hockey in China.

His magic touch continued as Team China also championed the 2002 Asian Games, China's first-ever Asian title in the sport, and 2002 Hockey World Cup.

(Top image: Park Tae-ha speaks at his farewell party organized by the CSL Yanbian FC in Yanji City, northeast China's Jilin Province, October 30, 2018. /VCG Photo)