When Xu Genbao left Yunnan he returned to his training to become a professional manager, which led to him take advanced courses at Beijing Sports Institute from 1984 to 1986.

He quickly enforced more professional techniques and tactics as well as developing a team able to fight Dalian Wanda's dominance within the league.

However, the following season back at Shanghai Shenhua was difficult for him, and he was unable to replicate the success he had previously shown despite coming second within the league.

Shanghai Shenhua parted ways with him and he joined second-tier club Guangzhou Matsunichi in the 1997 league season where he immediately made an impact by aiding them to a 4th-place finish and promotion to the top tier.

He seemed like an inspired choice when he quickly asserted himself within the team and won them another league title in his first season as well as coming runners-up in the 1997-98 Asian Club Championship.

With Shenhua flirting with relegation, he was essentially sacked from his post as manager, with Wu Jingui taking over.

[7] Xu Genbao moved away from management and founded a football school in 2001 called Genbao Football Academy, but after several years outside management he founded Shanghai East Asia in 2005 where he named himself the head coach; in 2009 he stepped back and allowed Jiang Bingyao to replace him while he remained chairman.