BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Super League club Qingdao Hainiu announced on Saturday that Li Xiaopeng has been appointed the club's new head coach.

Prior to the announcement, Li had been put in charge of a training camp of the Qingdao team for several days.

"When called by my hometown club, I saw no reason to say no," Li said.

"I will try as best as I can," he added.

Li, who guided Cangzhou Mighty Lions to fight off relegation last season, had been made redundant after the Cangzhou side was denied permission to play in the Super League for financial reasons by the Chinese Football Association.

The 49-year-old former China international midfielder is arguably the most experienced Chinese local football coach, having managed Shandong Taishan, Wuhan Zall, Cangzhou Mighty Lions and both China's men's and women's national teams. Enditem

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