[2] Despite the defeat he would still be included in the squad that took part in the 1980 AFC Asian Cup and while the tournament saw China play disappointingly Zuo Shusheng would nevertheless start to become an integral member of the Chinese team.
[citation needed] After he retired Zuo Shusheng was allowed to become the head coach of Tianjin City FC for a short period when they didn't compete in the 1992 league season.
He would join Chengdu Wuniu and Gansu Tianma as a trainer until 2007 when Tianjin Teda would bring back Zuo Shusheng to the club but this time as the head coach of reserve team.
Zuo Shusheng would once again return to Tianjin senior team as head coach in 2008 when Jozef Jarabinský was sacked during the 2008 league season.
The appointment would see Tianjin quickly move up the table and end the season in fourth place as well as a position within the AFC Champions League for the first time.