Zhang formerly served as director of Policy and Regulation Department of China's General Administration for Sport, and takes over following a series of disappointing performances from China football teams.

Under Wei's guidance, China failed to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and the London 2012 Olympic Games, as well as being defeated in the group stages of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in 2011.

Other national teams have also been failing to reach expectations in recent years, with the Under-17's and Under-19's sides eliminated from the Asian Youth Championships without a single win, and the women's team failed to qualify for the 2011 FIFA World Cup and the London 2012 Olympics.


Former Head of the CFA Wei Di (pictured) stepped down in earlier this month

Wei took over as chief in 2010, when CFA Vice-President's Yang Yimin and Nan Yong were charged with bribing referees and were sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison, with many other members of the CFA, referees, players and staff facing similar charges.

Cai Zhenhua, deputy director of the General Administration of Sport, announced the appointment at a meeting attended by Zhang and his predecessor, stating that the decision was made with the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio in mind.

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