Zhu Guanghu
The Chinese head coach Zhu Guanghu gave Zhai Yanpeng his debut on March 27, 2007, in a friendly game against Uzbekistan in a 3–1 victory in preparation for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup and used Zhai Yanpeng as a defensive midfielder. Unable to make the squad for the Asian Cup, he was still highly regarded by the new Chinese Head coach Vladimir Petrović to play in several friendlies until his condition forced him to retire.