Former China men's national football team head coach Bora Milutinovic recently spoke about his profound connection with Chinese football at a private event in New York.

At the gathering, Milu, as he is affectionately known, shared what he considers the happiest day of his life. "Do you know which day was the happiest in my life? It was the day China qualified for the World Cup. That was my happiest day," he stated.

In 2001, Milu led the Chinese men's team to its first-ever FIFA World Cup finals appearance, a historic achievement for Chinese football that is still celebrated today. More than two decades later, he remains visibly moved when discussing that period. Milu mentioned that his first visit to China was as early as 1977, having traveled to cities like Beijing and Shanghai, and he has always held a special affection for the country.

Milu maintained his signature optimism and humor. He admitted that hearing extensive discussions about AI and computing at the event made him feel a bit like he was born in the wrong era. "In my time, we didn't have computers, and even television wasn't widespread. Now you have everything," he remarked.

When asked when China might qualify for the World Cup again, Milu joked, "The answer is very simple: hire me again. Together with Lenovo AI, we could create a second record. But there's one problem now—nobody is asking me."

In Milu's view, technological advancements are also opening up new possibilities for football.

Lenovo Group, as FIFA's first official technology partner, is deeply involved in this World Cup's operations, team services, and fan experience through its AI solutions. Its Cockpit integrated command center aggregates real-time data across three time zones, 16 host cities, and 104 matches. The FIFA AI Pro football super-intelligent agent marks the first introduction of generative AI into the World Cup's tactical system, available to all 48 participating teams. Additionally, the Ref Cam AI Stabilizer for enhancing referee-angle video and 3D digital human technology are being used to stabilize live broadcast footage and quickly reconstruct offside situations, making officiating decisions more transparent and the viewing experience more immersive.

Milu also noted that the current head coach of the China men's national team, Shao Jiayi, was once his player. "I believe he can achieve good results. We share many wonderful memories," he added.