This is not, of course, the first time Gao has been in the limelight. A cool-headed former goal-getter with both club and country, Gao raised many eyebrows when he took Changchun Yatai to the Super League crown in only their second top-flight season in 2007. Two years later he became the China coach, his appointment coming in the wake of the country's failed qualifying campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. And he got his national team tenure off to a brilliant start with a solitary-goal defeat of Iran, before seeing off Lebanon both home away during 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifying. "It was a big opportunity to take the reins of the national team", said Gao. "And of course, it was a challenge as well. China's football has been on a downward trend since 2002, when we made our Word Cup debut. With so much hardship facing us, I felt a great deal of responsibility to revive our footballing fortunes."


I always concentrate on organisation and co-operation among the players, because when the players work for the common cause both on and off the pitch, the faith and unity can create great strengths.


Shanghai SIPG coach Gao Hongbo A series of young talents broke into Gao's national team as he aimed to build a team that could qualify for Brazil 2014. Tactically, he focused on possession, passing and speedy attacking, a strategy with helped them win the 2010 EAFF Championship ahead of Japan and Korea Republic. Notably, ending a 32-year drought in style by routing Korea Republic 3-0. "We had a good side then", continued Gao, whose record in charge of China also includes a 1-0 friendly win against France and a 3-0 triumph over Honduras. "We had creative talent in Deng Zhuoxiang and Zhao Xuri driving the team from midfield, while both Qu Bo and Yu Hanchao had the ability to stun opponents with their pace and finishing. We tried to maintain the control of midfield and attack down both flanks. It was a tactic that proved profitable for us." China maintained good form during his 27 months in charge, winning 24 and drawing 13 of the 42 games played. Not surprisingly, this proud record saw China move up the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking to Asia's top five in July of 2011, and as a result were seeded in the continent's third qualifying round for Brazil 2014, alongside Australia, Japan, Korea Republic and Iran. Coaching philosophy
Gao, who made way for Jose Antonio Camacho two years ago as China sought further progress under the experienced Spaniard, shed light on his coaching secret. He said: "I always concentrate on organisation and co-operation among the players, because when the players work for the common cause both on and off the pitch, the faith and unity can create great strengths. And definitely, your must discover the tactic which best suits your players." "Coaching is not only teaching, but also learning," a modest Gao concluded. "I gained good knowledge from the national team's former foreign coaches from England, Germany and Netherlands, particularly when I worked as assistant to former China coach Arie Haan. All this laid the foundation for my coaching. So if you want to win, you must learn."