Once earning over 100 million yuan at Evergrande! At 40, Gao Lin complains: Being a general manager in China League Two, one month’s salary isn't enough for fuel costs.

NightAirdropper · 2026-03-27T16:33:37+00:00

Gao Lin, a former national team player, is now the general manager of Guangdong Mingtu Club in China League Two. Although his income is modest and after deducting expenses there is little left, he says that work makes him happy. During his time at Evergrande, he earned over 100 million yuan and has achieved financial freedom.

NightAirdropper

2026-03-27 16:33:37

Abstract generation in progress

On March 26, Beijing time, CCTV’s “Football Night” program focused on 40-year-old former national team player Gao Lin, who serves as the general manager of a China League Two club. The former Guangzhou Evergrande legend humorously complained, “After deducting fuel costs and highway fees from my current salary, there’s hardly anything left.”

Currently, the 40-year-old Gao Lin is the general manager of Guangdong Mingtu Club in China League Two, and he stated during an interview with CCTV reporters that this so-called “general manager” title does not come with an income that is as glamorous as the name suggests.

Gao Lin lamented, “To be honest, the daily round-trip highway and fuel costs to the club leave me with very little by the end of the month.”

However, Gao Lin also self-deprecatingly remarked, “Hahaha, but I think this isn’t important. The pursuit of things is different; I’m actually quite happy every day and look forward to my work every day.”

Born on February 14, 1986, Gao Lin plays as a forward. As a former national team player, he has made 109 appearances for the national team, contributing 22 goals and 7 assists. Gao Lin played for the “8-time champion” Guangzhou Evergrande for 10 years.

According to reports from back then, when Gao Lin first joined Guangzhou Evergrande, his annual salary exceeded 3 million. When Gao Lin renewed his contract in 2015, his annual salary increased to over 10 million before tax.

In February 2020, Gao Lin transferred to China League One’s Shenzhen Kaisa, earning the domestic player maximum salary of 10 million, with a 20% increase for national team players, reaching 12 million yuan.

It is reported that during his 10 years with Guangzhou Evergrande, Gao Lin’s total salary income exceeded 100 million yuan. This means that Gao Lin has long achieved “financial freedom,” and even though this job may not cover expenses, he and his family can still lead a prosperous life for the rest of their days.

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