Former Everton defender Tyias Browning is relaunching his career some 6,000 miles away from Goodison Park under the guidance of Fabio Cannavaro, one of football's best-ever centre-backs.
Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning captain is the manager of Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande where 25-year-old Scouser Browning has been plying his trade since quitting the Blues in February.
Browning, who has a Chinese grandfather, joined Everton in 2004 as a 10-year-old but after 15 years at the club he made the huge decision to relocate to the Far East after making nine first team appearances for the Blues supplemented by loan spells at Wigan Athletic, Preston North End and Sunderland.
After making his Guangzhou debut on March 5 in a 2-0 home win over Japanese side Sanfreece Hiroshima in the AFC Champions League, Browning is settling in to life at one of Asia's biggest clubs.
He told Reuters : “The conditions are something I’m still getting used to.
“It’s a lot different to English football and I’m still adapting. But my team mates are helping me a lot and Fabio’s helping me a lot and I’m getting used to it. I’m settling in quite well.
“People were saying I was a bit young to come over to China but I came here for a new challenge and I’m enjoying it.
“I’m playing regularly, first of all. It’s a lot different and I’m glad I made the decision to experience something different. And my family’s very happy here, which helps.”
The city of Guangzhou's population is around 15million – approximately 30 times the size of Liverpool – and Evergrande, currently third in the table after 14 of their 30 matches, are five points off the summit.
Last season they finished runners-up behind Shanghai SIPG after being crowned champions for the previous seven years in a row.
