“Recently, Li Tie submitted a request to the Chinese Football Association to resign from his position as the head coach of the Chinese national football team,” the country’s governing body said in a statement.
 
“After consideration, the Chinese Football Association decided to agree to his resignation request.
 
“After extensive consultation, the Chinese Football Association has decided to appoint Li Xiaopeng as the head coach of the Chinese men's national team.”

Li Tie was officially appointed head coach in January 2020 as replacement for Marcelo Lippi, who resigned after his side’s loss in the second phase of the AFC Asian Qualifiers against Syria in November 2019.
 
Li Tie oversaw an uptick in the team’s performance and qualified China PR for the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar as one of the best runners-up after finishing in second place in Group A behind Syria.

However, China PR have struggled in Group B, which features Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia, Oman and Vietnam.

Saudi Arabia lead the group with 16 points from their first six games with Japan in second place a further four points behind. Only the top two finishers are guaranteed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
 
The third place finisher will advance into a playoff with the nation that finishes third in Group A, with the winners of that clash taking on the fifth-best team from Conmebol in a playoff in June. Australia are currently in third place in Group B.

New coach Li Xiaopeng will take charge of his first game on January 27 when China PR face Japan before taking on Vietnam five days later.
 
Li Xiaopeng has a strong track record as a coach having previously played for China PR, partnering Li Tie in the national team midfield during the FIFA World Cup in 2002, the country’s only previous appearance at the tournament.

The 46-year-old took Shandong Luneng to a third place finish in the Chinese Super League in 2018, qualifying the club for the 2019 AFC Champions League. They went on to reach the Round of 16.
 
Shandong also secured two runners-up finishes in the Chinese FA Cup – in 2018 and 2019 – under Li Xiaopeng before he resigned during the 2020 season due to ill health. He then took over as Wuhan FC coach at the start of the current Chinese Super League season.