In the 1982 World Cup in Spain, in the memories of every Chinese fan, there is always a bit of bitterness mixed with madness.

　　Zico, Platini, Rossi, Rummenigge... this series of names that have long been engraved into the history of world football are full of vigor and vitality at the peak of the game.

　　However, behind the superstar's feast, what is unwilling to do is that the Chinese men's football team fell to the play-offs at the last minute, just one step away from breaking into the World Cup for the first time in history.

Data map: Chi Shangbin.

Image source: Osports All Sports Photo Agency

　　History is always helpless, but memory is so unforgettable.

In addition to pain for Chinese football, this defeat also ignited the fire of hope for Chinese people to enter the world.

　　However, Chi Shangbin, the captain of the national football team who ignited the fire, has now passed away forever with expectations of Chinese football.

　　According to media person Bai Guohua, this morning, Chinese football star Chi Shangbin died of a heart attack at the age of 72.

A reporter from Chinanews subsequently confirmed the news from relevant parties.

Witness: China Men's Football World Cup Realizes its Dream

　　Chi Shangbin was a national football player in the 1970s and 1980s, representing the national football team in two Asian Cups in 1976 and 1980; in 1980, the 23rd Olympic qualifiers and other major events.

　　In the 1982 World Cup qualifiers, the Chinese football team, which returned to the FIFA family, started its second journey to the World Cup.

　　Lin Lefeng, Zuo Shusheng, Shen Xiangfu, Gu Guangming, Rong Zhixing... Among the players in the history of Chinese football, Chi Shangbin, wearing the captain's armband, is particularly conspicuous.

Fans are full of expectations for the Chinese men's football team to enter the World Cup.

　　However, it is precisely such a lineup with a first-class level in Asia, but ultimately missed the World Cup in an extremely tragic way.

　　At that time, the Chinese men's football team, which had played all the games, led New Zealand by as many as 5 goals difference. If the latter could not smooth the gap in the final round against Saudi Arabia, the qualifications for promotion would be obtained by the Chinese team.

　　Just when everyone thought that the Chinese men's football team had entered the World Cup with one foot, the worst happened suddenly-New Zealand defeated Saudi Arabia by five goals and qualified for the play-offs with the Chinese team.

　　The time of the game was twists and turns, and the temporarily assembled national football players were exhausted physically and mentally. This also paved the way for the subsequent defeat. In the end, the national football team lost 1:2 to New Zealand and missed the 1982 World Cup finals.

The Chinese men's football team regretted losing to New Zealand.

　　As the captain, Chi Shangbin stood at the core of the storm and experienced this tragic defeat.

The question of when Chinese football can enter the World Cup is also raised in the hearts of everyone who cares about Chinese football.

　　Twenty years later, in the 2001 top ten, Milu led the Chinese team to qualify and successfully entered the Korea-Japan World Cup, realizing the dream of generations of China.

　　Chi Shangbin, who has become a member of the Chinese coaching staff of the national football team, witnessed the answer to this question being finally cracked.

　　After the game, Chi Shangbin collected the balls used by the Chinese team to qualify for the World Cup. He said: "From player to coach, I have experienced many impacts in the World Cup. When I was a player, I did not make it to the World Cup. Being a coach can realize this dream, too. worth commemorating."

On October 7, 2001, in Group B of the top ten of the Asian World Cup qualifiers, the Chinese team defeated Oman 1-0 and entered the World Cup finals for the first time.

Chinese team assistant coach Chi Shangbin (second from left) at the flag-raising ceremony. Source: Osports All Sports Photos Agency

Accompanying: Dalian Football Bumpy Fuxing Road

　　After his defeat in the World Cup, Chi Shangbin chose to hang up his boots in 1982, entered the Beijing Institute of Physical Education for further studies, and then took up the position of coach.

　　In 1995, Chi Shangbin, who had been away from his hometown for 8 years, once again set foot on the land of Dalian. The mood when he returned to China this time was completely different from that when he left. He was appointed as the head coach of the team by Wanda Club, so he went on. The stage of Dalian football.

　　Chi Shangbin once recalled: "The results of the Dalian Wanda team were in a declining stage at the time, and the team's situation was not too optimistic. Therefore, it was a challenge for me to take over the Wanda team."

　　Less than a month after taking over the team, the second stage of the A League has begun. After losing two consecutive games at the beginning, Chi Shangbin boldly used a group of young players like Sun Jihai.

This change allowed the team to remain unbeaten in the remaining 12 games of the 1995 season.

　　From 2 consecutive defeats to 12 unbeaten games, Chi Shangbin's coaching ability has been affirmed by Dalian fans.

The story afterwards is already well in mind-Chi Shangbin led Dalian Wanda to set an impressive record of 55 unbeaten games, and Chi Shangbin himself was awarded the "Best Coach" in the A League in those two consecutive seasons. title.

In 2012, Chi Shangbin, then assistant coach of the Dalian Albin team.

Image source: Osports All Sports Photo Agency

　　However, not all waiting can bear fruit.

　　In 2014, Dalian Albin was unfortunately relegated from the Super League. As a club executive, Chi Shangbin had to face the reality that Dalian left the Super League for the first time in 21 years of professionalism.

　　The undefeated 55 games and the glory of Dalian football have long been history. Chi Shangbin can only tell the players to cheer up and raise their heads, "Nothing, the sun will rise tomorrow."

　　On one side, the pain in my heart can only be digested silently by myself: "Because Dalian wants face, a football city has collapsed like this. The people, including me, are Dalian people, and I feel uncomfortable." "I tried my own. The old bones hope to defend the honor of Dalian football, but they can’t defend it now, so let’s start over.”

　　Like thousands of Dalian fans, Chi Shangbin has been waiting for the day when Dalian football will return to glory, but now although he has a Chinese Super League team again, it still takes time to reach the top.

　　This may also become Chi Shangbin's eternal regret.

Chi Shangbin attended the launching ceremony of the Chinese football legend coaching team.

Photo by Wang Muqing, a reporter from China News Service

Expectation: lay a solid foundation for Chinese football

　　Chi Shangbin once sighed and said: "Now football has left a very bad impression in the hearts of the people. As a practitioner, I am very guilty."

　　Far away from the front line of football, he then devoted more energy to the work of consolidating the foundation of Chinese football.

　　In 2017, the "165" action plan was reviewed and approved by the Chinese Football Association Member Congress, and a Chinese football coaching team was formed to participate in the youth training work. Chi Shangbin is one of them.

　　And Chi Shangbin's last public appearance was at the end of November 2020. He, Zhu Guanghu, Li Chunman and other celebrities attended the Youth Football Development Forum held in Xiamen.

　　Now that the celebrity has left, it once again evokes the memory of Chinese football struggling to pursue its dreams, but it also leaves the question of when and how Chinese football will rise.

　　The predecessors planted trees to stand among the strongest teams in Asia for Chinese football, and finally went to the world.

But now that Chinese football is starting again, between the inheritance, I only hope that there will be less regret and more hope.