After two months away from the game, former China captain Fan Zhiyi has decided to make a return in the unlikeliest of places. The former Crystal Palace and Cardiff City central defender, a pivotal figure in China's march to the 2002 World Cup finals, has been unveiled by local club Buler Rangers as their fourth player-assistant coach.
'My playing career has reached the end of the road,' said the 34-year-old Shanghai native. 'I hope to continue my involvement in football through coaching, which is part of the reason why I decided to join Rangers.' Fan hopes his experience will be helpful to the young Rangers team, who are made up mainly of Hong Kong's Olympic squad. Last year Rangers finished third in the league under the tutelage of South Korean Kim Pan-gon.
Fan's arrival should raise the morale of a team who recently lost their captain Cheung Yiu-lun, killed in a car crash earlier this month. 'I am thrilled to have the opportunity to play alongside him,' said defender Chan Wai-ho, who will likely partner Fan in the centre of defence for the rest of the season. 'This is a unique opportunity for us.'
