Cai takes over from 75-year-old Yuan Weimin, who had occupied the role since 1992.

The move represents a first reshuffle in the CFA's governance for a decade with the governing body not having called an annual general meeting (AGM) in the past seven years.

The 53-year-old Cai won four table tennis World Championship titles as a player in the 1980s before beginning a career in coaching in 1991.

Since then, Cai has overseen a dominant period for Chinese table tennis players which has seen the country amass more than 50 world titles across the men's, women's and mixed categories while China has also dominated in the Olympic Games.

The authorities in China will be hoping that Cai can translate his success in table tennis across to the football field as the country has struggled to build on its single FIFA World Cup appearance in neighbouring South Korea and Japan in 2002.

Spaniard Jose Antonio Camacho was sacked as head coach of the men's national team in June 2013, following a series of poor results culminating in a 5-1 defeat to Thailand, with the side currently ranked 92nd in the world by FIFA.

The women's national side have also struggled in recent years and have failed to build on their results in the 1990s which saw them finish as runners-up in the Atlanta 1996 Olympic final and the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Final.

There has also been problems off the field with a number of corruption scandals blighting the game in recent years.

Former CFA vice-President Nan Yong was among a number of Chinese officials to be jailed on bribery and match-fixing charges in 2012 ©Bongarts/Getty Images

















































In 2012, a number of Chinese officials and players were jailed after being implicated in a match-fixing and bribery scandal, including former CFA vice-presidents Nan Yong and Xie Yalong, and former national team captain Wei Shaohui.

However, Cai has vowed to restore faith in Chinese football after he was unveiled at the National Football Training Base in Xianghe.

"There are so many heavy tasks and time is limited," said Cai.

"I just want to say three words: determination, confidence and perseverance.

"What I am saying is not a slogan.

"By determination I mean I will put in real efforts to set goals and to bring Chinese soccer back to its right track.

"The stern reality of Chinese soccer forces us to make complete changes.

"I am burdened with a colossal task."

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