China women's football coach Shui Qingxia sacked over Olympic failure

The former international player, the first woman to take charge of the Steel Roses, was named the Asian Football Confederation's women's coach of the year for 2022 just a few weeks ago. But she has paid the price after a qualifying campaign for Paris 2024 ended in failure earlier this month, with fans turning on the coach.

"The contracts of the head coach and the original coaching team have automatically been terminated according to the agreement," a Chinese Football Association statement read. An interim coaching team will take charge for two friendly matches away at the United States next month while the CFA gives "careful consideration" to her successor.

Shui was in charge for two years, winning the 2022 Asian Women's Cup and taking China to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year. China were dumped out of the World Cup in the group phase, having been thrashed 6-1 by eventual finalists England.

 

November 20, 2023