Li Tie’s David Moyes message has Chinese football fans reminiscing of World Cup and English Premier League glory days

China head coach posted on social media after watching West Ham United’s dramatic English Premier League comeback against Spurs

Chinese football fans recall a time when Li led China to 2002 World Cup appearance and teammates played in England

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Tottenham's Gareth Bale (centre) looks on as West Ham's manager David Moyes shakes hands with goalscorer Manuel Lanzini at the end of the English Premier League draw. Photo: AP

Published: 3:02pm, 19 Oct 2020Updated: 3:02pm, 19 Oct 2020

China national team coach Li Tie congratulated his former Everton boss David Moyes after watching West Ham United’s dramatic late comeback against Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League on Sunday, prompting Chinese football fans to reminisce about the country’s glory days.

Li posted on his Weibo account at 2.06am after staying up to watch the 3-3 thriller, sharing a video of West Ham’s injury time equaliser from Manuel Lanzini.

“I just watched a Premier League game,” Li wrote. “Congratulations to my former boss David Moyes for leading West Ham to create a little miracle! Three goals in 10 minutes! This is the charm of football! Before the last minute, Never give up! Football, everything is possible!”

Li played for Everton from 2002 to 2006, initially arriving on loan from Liaoning ahead of the 2002-03 season, which was Moyes first campaign in charge of the Goodison Park club.

Newly-elected Chinese men's national football team head coach Li Tie at a press conference in Beijing in January, 2020. Photo: Xinhua

He and China international teammate Li Weifeng moved to Merseyside after playing for China at the 2002 Fifa World Cup in Japan and South Korea.