In the field of international women's football, the career of Wang Shanshan, the captain of the Chinese women's football team, has reached an important turning point. After a draw against South Korea, the Chinese women's team had to face missing out on the Paris Olympics, which also heralded the end of the golden era for some of the team's most respected players, including Wang Shanshan herself.
The 33-year-old Wang Shanshan, with her long-term dedication to football, has become synonymous with the spirit and resilience of the Chinese women's football team.
This draw with South Korea is not just a match result, it symbolizes the end of an era and an upcoming period of change for the Chinese women's football team.
In the next two years, due to the lack of major competition tasks, the Chinese women's football team is about to usher in a major squad adjustment to open up the road of new talents, but also to say goodbye to the veterans.
In an interview, Wang Shanshan looked back on her career and the upcoming national team career with tears in her eyes.
This departure from the national team is not only a major turning point for Wang Shanshan personally, but also heralds the beginning of the strategic transformation of the Chinese women's football team.
A recent report from Beijing Youth Daily pointed out that veterans like Wang Shanshan and her teammate Lou Jiahui are preparing to retire from the national team after the Women's World Cup.
Notably, Wang Shanshan is about to embrace her new role as a coach, and she plans to shape the next generation by participating in professional training, passing on her experience on the court with the same tenacity and skill.
In a 21-hour interview, Wang Shanshan admits that as she gets older, a decline in physical strength and speed is inevitable. Her words not only acknowledge the irreversibility of time, but also show her commitment to football, whichever way best serves it.
While Wang's absence will undoubtedly leave a void in the national team, how she handled the transition gracefully is a testament to her personality.
Her colleague Wang Shuang, as well as the rest of the team, undoubtedly felt bittersweet about the change. It's also a testament to the relentless flow of competitive sports, when athletes, like Wang Shanshan, make the difficult but necessary decision to leave when their careers are at an ebb and flow.
Unlike the expected complete exit from football, Wang Shanshan is expected to continue to contribute to football in a different capacity. She plans to stay in touch with the Tianjin women's football team for the next one to two years, a decision that comes as a result of the team's recognition of her illustrious career and the support they have provided to her accordingly.
Wang Shanshan's loyalty to the Tianjin women's football team is not without stories. She turned down a lucrative offer and stayed in the Tianjin women's football team that trained her. In return, the team arranged for her a job as a primary school physical education teacher.
This character, although leaving the spotlight of international football, proved that her influence and legacy would extend beyond her sporting career.
People are full of anticipation for Wang Shanshan's future. With a career that may have moved from the pitch to the dugout, her journey remains an inspirational story for many.
As she embarks on this new phase, the world of sport is watching to keep an eye on the continued impact she will have on women's football, drawing on her experience and future professional training.
Wang Shanshan is about to retire from the national team, which does not mean the end, but a different form of rebirth. It's a transition from player to mentor, from scoring goals to shaping lives, from being cheered as a captain to being respected as a coach.