Returning to Guangzhou professional football after six years! This time, Gao Lin takes on the role of general manager.

Reporter Wang Wei reporting. After six years away from Guangzhou professional football, the well-known No. 29 striker Gao Lin has rejoined the Guangzhou professional football ranks, this time as the general manager of Guangdong Mingtou! On the evening of February 23, the China League Two club Guangdong Mingtou officially announced: "To further improve the club’s management system, strengthen the team’s professional operations, and solidify the foundation for long-term development, Mr. Gao Lin has been appointed Vice President of Guangzhou Yuanfan Sports Technology Co., Ltd. and General Manager of Guangdong Mingtou Football Club Co., Ltd., taking full responsibility for first-team training and management."

Gao Lin transferred from Shanghai Shenhua to Guangzhou Evergrande in early 2010 and played professional football in Guangzhou for a full decade until early 2020, when he moved to Shenzhen JiaZhaoye. Throughout his ten years in Guangzhou professional football, Gao Lin, always wearing the No. 29 jersey, left a deep impression on Guangzhou fans. In his career, he has played for clubs including Shanghai Shenhua, Guangzhou Evergrande, and Shenzhen JiaZhaoye, earning multiple call-ups to represent China’s national team with 109 appearances and 22 goals. During his time at Guangzhou Evergrande, Gao Lin helped the team win 8 Chinese Super League titles, 2 AFC Champions League titles, 2 FA Cups, and 4 Super Cups among other trophies.

In the official announcement by Guangdong Mingtou Football Club on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, February 23, Gao Lin was praised as follows: "Gao Lin brings rich professional experience, profound football knowledge, and outstanding leadership skills. His addition will provide Guangdong Mingtou with invaluable top-tier league experience and management expertise. He will lead the construction of the first team's training system, shape tactical style, and handle team management, injecting strong momentum into the club’s professional and specialized development."

After being officially announced as the club’s general manager by Guangdong Mingtou, Gao Lin expressed gratitude for the attention and support he received and will now fully dedicate himself to the work at Mingtou.

Gao Lin devoted the best ten years of his career to Guangzhou football, and the fans have been eagerly awaiting the transformation of their No. 29. After leaving the professional field in 2023, Gao Lin appeared publicly as a player for Guangzhou in the China Heritage Football Stars League. Over the past three years, he has actively participated in coaching training programs organized by the Chinese Football Association, striving to earn his professional football coaching license as soon as possible.

Regarding Gao Lin’s return to the professional stage, two main topics have attracted public attention: First, what agreements were reached between Gao Lin and Mingtou for his return after retirement? Second, what expectations are there for Gao Lin as the club’s general manager?

"The main reason Gao Lin joined Mingtou is that our club has a solid foundation, meaning a well-established youth training system. Gao Lin sees this as the kind of football environment he desires, which is the fundamental reason he is willing to take on this role," said Wang Gang, investor of Guangdong Mingtou Football Club, on the 23rd. "We hope Gao Lin, together with Mingtou’s young players, will contribute more to Chinese football, cultivate more national team players, and help Chinese football quickly reach the world stage and the World Cup."

Guangdong Mingtou successfully advanced from the China Champions League to China League Two in 2024 through the Guangdong National Games team. In the 2025 season, the team secured its place in China League Two. That same year, the Guangdong National Games team, composed mainly of young players, won the bronze medal in the U18 men’s football event at the 15th National Games. Among them, players Zhong Wenze and Zhu Xinyu were selected for the U19 national team.

Guangdong Mingtou is committed to nurturing new football talent in South Guangdong and has always been rooted in youth training. In the 2025 U15 Chinese Youth Championship, the Guangdong Mingtou U15 team fought their way to become runners-up. Wang Gang stated, "Our homegrown youth players, like Sun Chenxi, have already been promoted to the first team. In the future, every transfer window will see our cultivated youth talents join the first team."

Gao Lin’s appointment marks a critical step forward in Guangdong Mingtou’s path toward professional management. The club firmly believes that under Gao Lin’s leadership, the Guangdong Mingtou first team will demonstrate stronger competitiveness and cultivate more outstanding talents for Guangdong and Chinese football.

Meanwhile, for the 2026 China League Two season, Guangdong Mingtou’s home stadium has been officially confirmed as the Guangdong Provincial People’s Stadium located in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou — Dongjiaochang being a significant landmark of Guangdong football, carrying countless honors and memories, witnessing the glorious history of South Guangdong football. Now, the Guangdong Provincial Stadium becomes Guangdong Mingtou’s base. The club looks forward to further progress in talent development, market operations, and fan culture building. Gao Lin, stepping into his new role as general manager, will grow together with Guangdong Mingtou’s young players.