BEIJING -- Chinese national team coach Li Tie said on Saturday what Chinese football needs most is committed coaches at the youth level.

The former Everton player paid a visit to his mentor Zhang Yin on Saturday, the second day of Chinese New Year.

"On the second day of every lunar new year, so long as I was in Shenyang, I always went to visit Mr. Zhang with my children," he wrote on social media.

"Chinese football maybe needs improvement in many aspects, but I think what it currently needs most is a large number of conscientious youth coaches like Mr. Zhang," he wrote.

In 1999, Zhang coached the Liaoning football side, where Li Tie served, and won promotion to the top flight. He then guided the team to finish runner-up the following season.