Haotian Li, also known as Dylan Li, is a passionate coach originally from China, who has been making waves at Leicester Nirvana, where he coaches multiple age groups. With seven years of coaching experience, he’s driven by his player-centred philosophy and a commitment to learning.

Can you tell us about your journey into football coaching and what inspired you to become a coach?

I grew up in an academy in China, but unfortunately, an injury ended my playing career early. At that point, I realised I could use my experience and knowledge to help others. I always said, “If I can’t play, I’ll use my insight to give knowledge to help develop players instead.”

After moving to the UK, I met incredible people who supported me, like Terry Singh, a community champion with the FA and John Olaleye the Equality and Inclusion Lead at Leicester City. Also I could never forget the Football Regional Coach Developer, Lee Brown. Their guidance and encouragement have been key to my coaching journey. I started coaching in 2018, so it’s been six or seven years now.

Have any coaches influenced your style or inspired you?

Yes! One coach I met during a CPD session at Leicester City Academy really stood out. He used music during training to set the mood and intensity—relaxing music for lighter sessions and high-energy tracks for intense ones. It was fascinating to see how much detail he put into every session and how well he knew his players. That’s the kind of coach I aspire to be.

What differences do you see between football in China and the UK? How would you encourage others, especially those from Chinese backgrounds, to get into coaching?

The biggest difference is the intensity—both during matches and throughout the schedule. The pace and physicality here are higher, which helps players and coaches grow.

For anyone, especially those from Chinese backgrounds, who want to get into coaching, my advice is simple: play more games. Join a league, immerse yourself in football, and learn from the experience. It’s the best way to grow your understanding of the game.

What are some of your proudest achievements as a coach?

One moment I’m particularly proud of is seeing a player I coached join Nottingham Forest’s academy. I gave him position-specific training because I could see his potential. When I found out he made it, I was so proud—even though I only heard about it through his friends! Moments like that remind me why I coach.

Where do you aspire to be in the future as a coach?

I want to keep learning and developing as a coach. My goal is simple: if players I’ve worked with go on to achieve great things, and people say, “Dylan helped build their foundation,” that’s would make me very proud.

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