XI'AN, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's third-tier football club Shaanxi Chang'an Union on Thursday extended the contract of coach Oscar Cespedes until the end of the 2025 season, the club confirmed.
The club also said it had a potential option to further extend the Spaniard's stay until the end of 2026.
Oscar, 45, is a former midfielder from Barcelona's famed La Masia academy in Spain. He retired in 2014 and joined Qingdao Huanghai in 2016 as youth training director.
In the 2019 season, the Spaniard was appointed as Qingdao's head coach and helped Qingdao secure promotion to the Chinese Super League (CSL) after claiming first place in the second-tier China League One.
After coaching Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic, Guangxi Pingguo Haliao and Nanjing City from 2021 to 2023, Oscar was named Shaanxi Chang'an Union coach in September and helped the team secure a place in the 2024 Chinese third division league (China League) after a six-game winning streak in the Chinese Football Association Member Association Champions League.
When Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic was disbanded due to wage arrears in March 2023, Chang'an Union was established based on the main squad of the former Shaanxi-based professional team.
"Under Oscar's lead, we look forward to having a good result in the year 2024," said the newly-established club in its announcement. ■
