Serbian soccer coach thanks Chinese president's comment

During the state visit to Mexico this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping recalled his love to soccer and an old acquaintance of the two countries that are seeking ever closer bilateral relations.

The Serbian soccer coach Bora Milutinovic, said President Xi Jinping, led China's sole participation in Korea-Japan World Cup in 2002 and made a record for Chinese soccer.

"I am a football fan," Xi said in his speech to the Mexican Senate. "The Chinese soccer team has always been doing their best, but has had only one chance to enter the World Cup competition. The coach who led the Chinese team to achieve this record was the one who has also coached the Mexican national soccer team, Bora Milutinovic."

Milutinovic told Xinhua in an exclusive interview via telephone that he was moved and excited by Chinese leader's words from Qatar, where he works as adviser to the country that will hold 2022 World Cup.

"I woke up and saw the mail from a friend telling me that the President Xi had remembered our success to obtain the ticket for the 2002 World Cup, it was more than 10 years ago and I was very excited, what I can tell you in reality is I can not believe it," said Milutinovic.

The Serbian native said that he immediately thought of going back to China, "I would like to return to China, it is a country that I love with exceptional people who have been very respectful to me, I'm grateful to President Xi's words," he added.

Milutinovic has taken five different countries to the World Cup. Besides China, in 2002, and Mexico, the Serbian coach has also led Costa Rica, the US and Nigeria to the finals.