Guangzhou Leopards Official: Xiao Zhi Takes on Dual Role as Assistant Coach for First Team

According to an official announcement from Guangzhou Leopards, following internal discussions, Xiao Zhi has been appointed as the first team’s assistant coach with immediate effect. He will continue to fight for the club in the remaining matches of the 2024 season as both a player and assistant coach.

The 39-year-old Xiao Zhi was born on May 28, 1985, in Luoyang, Henan Province. Standing at 186cm tall, he played as a forward during his playing career and holds an AFC A-Level coaching certificate. As the most experienced player within the Guangzhou Leopards squad, Xiao Zhi boasts an illustrious career, having played for clubs including Nanjing Youyou, Henan Team, Guangzhou City, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, Hebei Zhuoao, Liaoning Tieren, and Qingdao Haibao.

Xiao Zhi began his professional career with Jiangsu’s second professional football club, Nanjing Youyou, where he displayed exceptional physical attributes among his peers. In 2007, he joined Henan Team (previously known as Henan Jianye), marking his debut in China’s top football league. During his nine seasons with Jianye (2007-2015), he featured in 144 games, scoring 18 goals and providing 5 assists, with several stunning long-range strikes etched in the club’s history. In the 2016 season, Xiao Zhi transferred to Guangzhou City (formerly Guangzhou R&F). Under Stojković’s system, he developed into one of the country’s top center forwards. Between 2016 and 2019, Xiao Zhi made 92 appearances for Guangzhou City, netting 23 goals and assisting 11 times.

In 2020, Xiao Zhi moved north to join Tianjin Jinmen Tiger (previously known as Tianjin TEDA), playing in 13 matches. From 2021 to 2022, he represented Hebei Zhuoao, Liaoning Tieren (formerly Liaoning Shengyang City), and Qingdao Haibao, amassing 44 appearances and scoring 10 goals. His efforts contributed to Haibao’s promotion to the Chinese Super League in the 2021 season. In 2023, Xiao Zhi returned to Guangzhou, joining the newly established Guangzhou Leopards. During that season’s China Amateur Football League, he scored 12 goals, proving to be a crucial attacking force for the team. With this, Xiao Zhi has now completed his “check-in” across all four levels of Chinese football (CSL, China League One, China League Two, and China Amateur Football League) and scored in each tier.