People who make a living by playing football account for a very small proportion in China. It is this small circle of people who are often pushed to the forefront by public opinion.
why?
Many people will come to a direct conclusion-they do not play well.
It’s really irritating to play poorly and earn more.
Wu Jingui.
Image source: Qingdao team official micro
Wu Jingui, the coach of the Chinese Super League Qingdao team, said a few days ago: "Some players told me that now they can only get a contract of two to three million yuan. I said, be content." Wu directed a remark and was quickly quoted. Here comes another round of war of words.
In fact, in this media interview, Wu Jingui also said a lot, such as "People should be content sometimes, and the pressure of investors is not something we can understand. At this time, we have to be grateful that investors are persisting."
For another example, "Under such a situation this year, don't complain. On the contrary, we should look at everything with an optimistic and content attitude. The football circle needs to radiate more positive energy at this time, starting from each of us. "
However, the numerous "front and back texts" are automatically blocked in the eyes of some netizens.
Netizens are concerned about Chinese players, two to three million.
Someone stood up to fight the injustice for the athletes: Athletes' career is short, and what they eat is a bowl of "youth meal".
Netizen comment screenshot
Before arguing, we might as well discuss the industry ecology facing China's first-line players.
Looking back on the past many years, the Chinese football circle seems to have become a gathering place for the rich.
Does the situation mentioned by Director Wu really exist?
According to statistics from the US data agency "Sports Intelligence", the average salary of Chinese Super League players in 2019 is about 1.21 million US dollars, which is equivalent to about 8 million yuan.
In comparison, the average salary of the Japanese J-League during the same period was only 320,000 US dollars, and the Korean K-League was even less, only 1.2 million yuan.
Screenshot of the 2019 data report
The intuitive data shows that the salary level of Chinese players was far ahead in East Asia two years ago.
Of course, this is also related to the high average value of "sky-priced foreign aid", and even if this influence is left aside, it is indisputable that Chinese players whose overall strength is not as good as South Korea and Japan earn more than their counterparts in neighboring countries. fact.
It is also from the end of 2019, for two consecutive off-seasons, the Chinese Football Association has begun a drastic reform of the salary system of the domestic professional league.
The issuance of the salary limit order allowed Chinese football to bid farewell to the Jin Yuan era.
Data map: Qingdao team (white) in the Chinese Super League.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Yang Bo
Wu Jingui's Qingdao team is the newly promoted Chinese Super League in 2020.
From past experience, it is true that there will be no players with an annual salary of two or three million yuan in the Qingdao formation.
However, with the continuous increase in salary limits, professional players are forced to live a "tight life". Domestic players earning two to three million yuan a year have reappeared after many years.
According to the latest policy of the Football Association, the individual salary of domestic players in the first team of Chinese Super League clubs shall not exceed 5 million yuan before tax in a single season. The average salary limit of domestic players is 3 million yuan. The maximum annual salary of foreign aid shall not exceed 3 million euros. More than 10 million euros.
In addition, there is a separate salary regulation for domestic U21 players. U21 players who play less than 900 minutes in a single season cannot earn more than 300,000 yuan per year.
Screenshot of the Chinese Football Association announcement
Obviously, under the new rules, the players who "complained" to the director Wu about making less money may come from the U21 teenager in the team, and the former said that "two or three hundred thousand should be content", for players of this age group In terms of it, it seems to be a lot of money.
After all, judging by their age, the future is promising.
Referring to the salary data of the Super League in 2019, under the New Deal, the Super League team will indeed reduce a large amount of expenditure on salary expenses, and the money that athletes can get is indeed less.
But even if the salary limit is released, the annual income of the main players of the Super League teams will not plummet to a mere two to three million.
Data map: On the evening of November 12, 2020, in the final round of the Chinese Super League, Jiangsu Suning defeated Guangzhou Evergrande 2:1 and won the first Chinese Super League trophy in team history.
The picture shows Jiang Guangtai competing with Luo to grab the header.
Image source: ICphoto
The bowl of "youth meal" of Chinese football will not be as miserable as the arguers say.
Even in the era of salary restrictions, Chinese players will not have a harder life than their counterparts in the top leagues of Japan and South Korea.
So the next question comes again, how much should Chinese players earn?
Data Map: On November 14, 2019, in the World Cup Asian Top 40, the national football team lost 1:2 to Syria.
The picture shows the Chinese team players in the game.
Image source: Osports All Sports Photo Agency
Of course, many people will say that this issue should be left to the market for decision.
Chinese football has received a lot of capital support in the past few years, and it is understandable that players' income has increased.
However, there is also an old Chinese saying that goes well: the extreme of things must be reversed, and the full of objects will lead to tilt.
Data map: On December 1, 2019, Guangzhou Evergrande defeated Shanghai Shenhua 3-0 at home, winning the Chinese Super League championship for the 8th time in team history.
The picture shows the Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao team celebrating at the championship celebration.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Chen Jimin
The inflow of capital spurs the development of the industry. Of course, it is a happy event for Chinese football, but today's salary limit orders also vividly warn people of the truth of good fortune and misfortune.
The noise of the Jinyuan era gradually subsided. What we waited for is the death of the club family, and the waves of unpaid wages and wages of the players have not settled.
Sponsors, gradually let go.
Talking about the market deciding players, it seems pale and weak at the moment.
Data map: On December 15, 2019, the national football selection team (yellow) lost 0:1 to the host South Korea in the East Asian Cup.
Image source: Osports All Sports Photo Agency
On the other hand, Japan and South Korea, although they lack the magnificence and vigor of the ups and downs, the league operations have been tricky, and the players produced have also been exported to high-level European leagues.
Sun Xingmin, an "Asian king" alone, has already been worth the sum of the 500 best players in China.
Feedback to their respective national teams, not to mention, the record is clear at a glance.
The Jinyuan wave receded, and it was time for Chinese football to calm down.
Players whose income has shrunk should not only redefine their position in the "market", but also clarify the gap with the "top class" of Asian football.
FIFA ranking in Asia.
Screenshot of FIFA World Ranking List
Athletes are fleeting, what is the value of this bowl of "youth meal", it should be replaced by one's own sweat and hard work instead of being judged by outsiders.
Regardless of two to three million, two to three million or two to thirty million, as long as you do well enough, people will respect it.
vice versa.
(Reporter Wang Sishuo)