With another Asian Cup approaching, our national football players are in full swing preparing for the game in Qatar. Among them, the high-profile Yan Junling is about to usher in his third Asian Cup trip. Recalling the goalkeeper Ou Chuliang back then, he also participated in the Asian Cup three times, two generations of goalkeepers, the same perseverance, and different times and backgrounds.
When it comes to Au Chuliang, we have to admire his extraordinary reaction speed and flexibility, which make up for his lack of height. Despite the challenges of professional reform and the low point of his hometown club, Au has always stuck to his goalline. Especially in the 1998 FA Cup final, his heroic save won the victory for Shenhua and became a hero in the hearts of countless fans of that era.
And in the blink of an eye, we saw the rise of Yan Junling. In the context of the increasing improvement of the domestic league, he has become the representative of Shanghai football. He came out of Genbao Football Base, not only helped SIPG to be promoted to the Chinese Super League in 2013, but also achieved his dream of being a Chinese Super League champion in 2018. In him, we see a calm and calm style, which makes him an indispensable member of the national football team.
Comparing the experiences of the two goalkeepers, we can see the changes in Chinese football. In the era of Ou Chuliang, Chinese football is still groping, and Yan Junling's era is a witness to the gradual maturity of Chinese football. Both of them have left their footprints in the city of Shanghai, whether it is Shenhua or SIPG, they have bred many excellent players.
What is particularly impressive is that in the 1996 Asian Cup, Ou Chuliang failed to lead the national football team to go further as the main goalkeeper, while Yan Junling showed his ability in the last Asian Cup, especially in the game against Thailand, his outstanding performance helped the national football team to hold on to victory. This kind of stable performance at critical moments is exactly what Yan Junling left a deep impression on us.
The story of two generations of goalkeepers is not only a personal glory and challenge, but also a microcosm of the development of Chinese football. As Yan Junling is about to usher in his third Asian Cup, we have reason to believe that the evergreen goalkeeper, who has been recognized by many national football coaches, will once again prove his strength with his performance. No matter how the times change, their spirit and perseverance are worthy of learning and respect for every football fan.