‍‍‍‍According to numerous reports in the Chinese media, former Chinese National Team coach and Jiangsu Sainty coach Gao Hongbo will depart for the Netherlands to work as an assistant coach to ADO Den Haag FC so becoming the first Chinese coach to work for a European club since football turned professional in China. 

He has signed a one-year contract with the club, and it is reported that his appointment will be announced officially on Friday although he has already admitted the news himself to the media during interviews, according to reports. 

ADO Den Haag was bought by the Chinese sports company United Vansen at the start of 2015 for 8m euros. One of the goals of the purchase is to help Chinese football players and coaches to have the opportunity to work overseas and learn new coaching techniques and styles in order to enhance the skills of Chinese football players and clubs. His selection as assistant coach, it is reported was aided by the club owners United Vansen. 

Gao Hongbo recently left Jiangsu Guoxin Sainty FC and was previously the national football team’s mens coach from 2009 to 2011. He is said to be very excited about this opportunity as he revealed that he admires the technical skills of Dutch football. 

Most of the Chinese media have expressed their opinion that this would be a good learning curve for him. 

Source: ifeng, Tencent, etc. 

Proofread by Raymond Fitzpatrick.