Chinese men's soccer team head coach Li Tie looks on during a training session. (ZHANG KEREN / XINHUA)

BEIJING - Li Tie, head coach of Chinese men's football national team, has donated one million yuan RMB to the anti-novel coronavirus campaign in Wuhan, a Chinese Football Association (CFA) source confirmed on Wednesday.

The 42-year-old former Everton player, on behalf of his family, donated the money to Wuhan Charity federation to show his support to Wuhan in its battle against the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Li worked as the manager of Wuhan Zall Football club for over two years before being named as the head coach of the national team earlier this month

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"What he did is admirable, and he showed his love to the place where he used to work," the CFA source said.

Li worked as the manager of Wuhan Zall Football club for over two years before being named as the head coach of the national team earlier this month.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: China says 7,711 infected, 170 dead

Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, is the epicenter of the epidemic.

As of the end of Wednesday, the novel coronavirus had claimed 170 lives and infected 7,711 people nationwide in China.