Summary: As football continues to develop in all areas of Asia, a new breed of coach continues to reach abroad for bold new opportunities that would never be considered in the highly competitive world of the Europeand clubs, where younger coaches now have ventured and begin to acquire the types of experiences that are accelerating their education on a global scale. Mads Davidsen is one of those newest examples and has become a rising coach who made the move from Danish Superliga club Brøndby IF to work with Sven-Göran Eriksson inside the first city of Chinese football on the blue side of Guangzhou, China. Mads is also a scout and match analyzer and has become something of a media figure as well, delivering tactical analysis to a new audience in China reaching audience numbers nearing a million for each and every episode and he joins us in this episode to give us the ground view level of what is happening not only in the Chinese Super League, but also the emergence of new ideas and organization in a country now in the key stage of developing its football in almost lightning speed. We discuss the Chinese champions as the model for the modern AFC club, how development and academies have begun to spring up after massive investment and also examine how the region is progressing in so many ways once thought near-impossible. This includes a look at rivals Guangzhou Evergrande who are considered the pathfinders as AFC and CSL Champions, but also the evolution of the AFC Champions League and a new fan culture that is descending upon the Chinese clubs. We also explore the impact of bigger and more accomplished club managers in the Far East, how the modern player is adapting and developing with one eye on both the future for the sport and how young coaches are also developing at a higher rate given the opportunities placed before them. Has it now reached a point in China where it could be a world power in football after another 10-15 years of solid work and investment? The answer should not come as surprise after taking in this episode.
