Legendary player career
Xu Zhengyuan was a "short-footed tiger" in South Korean football in his days as a player. He was 1.73 meters tall and worked as a winger. He was famous for his astonishing speed and breakthrough ability. He has played for Anyang LG Cheetah, Iwata Joy and other teams. He joined Ligue 1 Strasbourg in 1998 and became the first South Korean player in the history of Ligue 1 for a transfer fee of 950,000 euros.
He played in 87 games for the South Korean national team, scoring 16 goals and 4 assists. The most famous one was the draw goal against Spain in the 1994 World Cup, which was known as the "Scud."
Teaching achievements and the transformation of Chengdu
To the meritorious head coach Xu Zhengyuan: Five years of hard work have created a legend, the leader of Chengdu football
On December 12, 2020, Mr. Xu Zhengyuan officially took over the coaching of Chengdu Rongcheng Football Club and embarked on an extraordinary journey to reshape the glory of Chengdu football; on December 12, 2025, his five-year term came to a successful conclusion. This humble and rigorous South Korean coach used his sweat and perseverance to write a colorful chapter for Chengdu football. In recognition of his outstanding contribution, Chengdu Rongcheng Football Club awarded Mr. Xu Zhengyuan the title of "Meritorious Coach" to remember his immortal achievements in the development of the team and city football.
At the beginning of coaching, Mr. Xu Zhengyuan shouldered the important task of leading the team back to the Super League. At that time, the team was still fighting in China A. He brought advanced football concepts, rigorous professional attitude and fighting spirit of never giving up, and quickly completed team integration and tactical polishing.
In the 2021 season, he led the team to win the fourth place in China A. In the promotion and downgrade play-offs, he defeated the Dalian people with a total score of 2:1 in two rounds. He successfully overtook the lead, allowing Chengdu football to return to the stage of China's top professional league after ten years. After the game, Mr. Xu Zhengyuan shed tears at the press conference and dedicated this precious gift to his mother who had just passed away. This deep affection and persistence also deeply moved every Chengdu fan.
After being promoted to the Super League, Mr. Xu Zhengyuan led this "newly promoted horse" forward steadily, achieving an increase in record year by year, and writing an inspirational chapter for the rise of the league. In the 2022 season, Chengdu Rongcheng, a new player in the Chinese Super League, made a stunning appearance and finally won fifth place in the league, showing strong adaptability; in the 2023 season, the team's strength continued to improve, taking the fourth place in the league further. Mr. Xu Zhengyuan was also elected as the best coach of the month in the Chinese Super League twice based on his excellent coaching performance; In the 2024 - 2025 season, the team won the third place in the Super League for two consecutive years, setting a record of 60 points in the top league in the team history, ranking among the top teams in the league.
In five years, he led the team to achieve a brilliant record of 102 wins, 45 draws and 36 losses. The winning percentage of 55.7% can be regarded as efficient, interpreting the spiritual core of "Iron and Blood Rongcheng" with stable performance.
While the domestic arena has been steadily improving, Mr. Xu Zhengyuan has also led Chengdu Rongcheng to achieve a historic breakthrough in the Asian arena. In August 2025, he led the team to a 3 - 0 victory over Thai Super League Bangkok United in the AFC Champions League play-off, advancing to the AFC Champions League for the first time in team history;
In September of the same year, the team defeated South Korean powerhouse Kangwon FC 1 - 0 at home in the AFC Champions League group stage, winning the club's first victory in the AFC Champions League, allowing Chengdu football to shine in Asian football. These breakthroughs not only enhanced the team's international influence, but also earned face for the Chinese Super League.
Mr. Xu Zhengyuan's contribution goes far beyond the breakthrough in his achievements. He understands the boundaries of Chinese Super League players 'abilities, abandons "suspended coaching", polishes tactics based on physical fitness, and creates an iron-blooded system with Romulo and Zhou Dingyang as the core. In 2025, the team scored 58 goals and conceded only 28 goals. Defensive data ranks at the forefront of the league.
He attached great importance to the construction of youth training and boldly used young players such as Hu Hetao and Mutalifu, laying a solid foundation for the long-term development of the team.
Under his leadership, Chengdu's home attendance rate has remained high all year round. Fenghuang Mountain Professional Football Stadium has become the famous "devil's home" of the Chinese Super League. A close emotional connection has been formed between the team and fans, jointly creating the city's football belief.
After five years of hard work, my original intention is like a rock. Mr. Xu Zhengyuan used his professional coaching ability, dedicated professionalism and deep affection for Chengdu football to build a Chinese first-class team into a top domestic and well-known football force in Asia, completing the leapfrog development from "returning to the top" to "basing itself on Asia". The fighting spirit, tactical style and team culture he has created have been deeply integrated into the club genes of Chengdu and have become a valuable asset that promotes the team to continue moving forward.
Here, Chengdu Rongcheng website extends its highest respect and most sincere thanks to Mr. Xu Zhengyuan! Thank you for his hard work and selfless dedication over the past five years, and for the glory and touch he has brought to Chengdu football. He deserves the title of "Meritorious Head Coach"! No matter where he goes in the future, Mr. Xu Zhengyuan will always be a close friend of Chengdu football, and the Fenghuang Mountain Stadium will always open its doors to him. May this deep friendship with Chengdu Football go back to ancient times, and I also wish him greater glory in his future coaching career!