In a surprise move, Quique Setien has stepped down as head coach of Beijing Guoan, just four matches before the end of the season. The 67-year-old Spaniard cited personal and family reasons for his departure, and the club officially accepted his resignation on Sunday. 🙌
Setien took the reins on December 10, 2024, leading Guoan through 32 official games: 19 wins, 7 draws, and 6 losses. Under his guidance, the team topped the CSL table at midseason, sparking hope for a title challenge. But consistency slipped in the back half, and Guoan now sit fourth with 51 points from 15 wins, 6 draws, and 5 losses. 👀
Two-time defending champions Shanghai Port (57 points) still lead the pack, trailed by Chengdu Rongcheng (55) and Shanghai Shenhua (54). With four crucial matches to play, Guoan will need to rediscover their early-season magic to stay in the title hunt. 💪
Setien’s final game was a tough 3-0 loss to Australia’s Macarthur in the AFC Champions League 2 — Asia’s second-tier club competition — last Thursday. Now, the question on every football fan’s mind: who will step up to steady the ship? ⏳
From his playing days at Racing Santander to coaching La Liga giants like Real Betis and Barcelona, Setien brought a touch of Spanish flair to the pitch. As he bids farewell in the Chinese mainland’s top flight, fans across South and Southeast Asia will be watching to see Guoan’s next move. 🌏⚽
Reference(s):
Setien steps down as Beijing Guoan coach with four matches remaining
cgtn.com
