Liaoning turn to French coach Rene Lobello to rescue Chinese Super League season after Ma Lin resignation
Former Asian champions moved out of the relegation zone at the weekend with 1-0 win over Changchun Yatai
Liaoning beat Changchun Yatai 1-0 on Sunday thanks to a goal from new signing Christian Bekamenga to record just their fourth win of the season and end a run of seven straight defeats, which lifted the 1990 Asian Club Championship winners out of the relegation zone by a point.
But despite the win, Liaoning confirmed the news on Tuesday with 54-year-old Ma taking up the position of technical director within the club.
“Ma Lin resigned due to health problems and we have agreed to his request,” said Liaoning of their former player, who was in the side which lifted China’s last continental title before Guangzhou Evergrande ended a 23-year wait by winning the AFC Champions League crown in 2013.
“We are trying very hard to avoid relegation and Ma Lin had been working under huge pressure and his energy is severely consumed.
“After the game against Changchun, he felt it impossible to hang on and resigned from the club. Considering his health problems, we decided to agree to his request.