In a surprise shake-up, Beijing Guoan and coach Quique Setien have parted ways with just four matches remaining in the 2024 Chinese Super League (CSL) season. Setien, the 67-year-old Spaniard, stepped down on Sunday, citing personal and family reasons.
Since taking the reins on December 10, 2024, Setien led Guoan through 32 official matches, guiding them to 19 wins, seven draws and six losses. Under his watch, the team stormed to the top of the CSL table at the season’s midpoint but then hit a rough patch that saw them slip out of title contention.
Heading into the final stretch, Beijing Guoan sits fourth with 51 points—from 15 wins, six draws and five setbacks. Two-time defending champions Shanghai Port top the standings on 57 points, followed by Chengdu Rongcheng (55) and Shanghai Shenhua (54).
The curtain fell on Setien’s tenure last Thursday in a 3-0 loss to Macarthur in the AFC Champions League 2, a result that underscored the inconsistencies plaguing Guoan’s late-season run.
A former midfielder who began his career at Racing Santander, Setien went on to manage Real Betis and Barcelona in Spain’s La Liga. His departure leaves a gap at Beijing Guoan as the club searches for a new leader to navigate the final hurdles of the campaign.
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Setien steps down as Beijing Guoan coach with four matches remaining
cgtn.com
