Tan Long
Encyclopedia
Long Tan is a Chinese
footballer currently playing for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer
.
, before moving to Shanghai
to further his career. He subsequently played for Shanghai United
and Pudong Zobon in China League One. He made his senior debut (and scored his first professional goal) on April 29, 2007, in a 2-1 home defeat to Beijing Institute of Technology
.
in 2009, scoring 7 goals in 12 appearances.
He attended open tryouts for MLS’s Philadelphia Union, but did not get called back after the first round of workouts, and eventually signed with FC Tampa Bay of the new USSF Division 2 Professional League
in January, 2010.
Tan's rights were traded to Vancouver Whitecaps FC as part of the deal taking Jonny Steele
and Ricardo Sánchez
to FC Tampa Bay on July 20, 2010. He went on trial with the club in November 2010 in view of signing with the club following their move up to Major League Soccer
. Tan signed with Vancouver on March 11, 2011.
He made his MLS debut on March 26, 2011 in a 1–0 loss to Philadelphia Union, and in doing so became the first Chinese-born player to play for an MLS club. On October 12, 2011 Tan become the first Chinese-born player to score in the MLS.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
footballer currently playing for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
China
Tan has been playing soccer since he was six. Between 1994 and 2004, he studied academics and played soccer at Zhong Shan school in his hometown, DalianDalian
Dalian is a major city and seaport in the south of Liaoning province, Northeast China. It faces Shandong to the south, the Yellow Sea to the east and the Bohai Sea to the west and south. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, Dalian is the southernmost city of Northeast China and China's...
, before moving to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
to further his career. He subsequently played for Shanghai United
Shanghai United F.C.
Shanghai United F.C was a football club that competed in the Chinese Super League. The club played at the Yuanshen Sports Centre Stadium in Shanghai and was owned by Zhu Jun, the owner of China's second-largest online gaming company The9 since 2005.In 2004, the team was based in Zhuhai and played...
and Pudong Zobon in China League One. He made his senior debut (and scored his first professional goal) on April 29, 2007, in a 2-1 home defeat to Beijing Institute of Technology
Beijing Institute of Technology FC
Beijing Institute of Technology Football Club is a Chinese football club based in Haidian, Beijing. The Club was found in 2000 and currently owned by the Beijing Institute of Technology . All the players, including few foreign students, are full-time students at the BIT...
.
United States
Tan relocated to the United States in late 2008, and played for the Atlanta Blackhawks in the USL Premier Development LeagueUSL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
in 2009, scoring 7 goals in 12 appearances.
He attended open tryouts for MLS’s Philadelphia Union, but did not get called back after the first round of workouts, and eventually signed with FC Tampa Bay of the new USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League...
in January, 2010.
Tan's rights were traded to Vancouver Whitecaps FC as part of the deal taking Jonny Steele
Jonny Steele
Jonathan "Jonny" Steele is a Northern Irish footballer currently playing for Carolina RailHawks in the North American Soccer League, on loan from FC Tampa Bay...
and Ricardo Sánchez
Ricardo Sánchez (footballer)
Ricardo Sánchez is a Mexican footballer currently playing for FC Tampa Bay in the USSF Division 2 Professional League.-Club:...
to FC Tampa Bay on July 20, 2010. He went on trial with the club in November 2010 in view of signing with the club following their move up to Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. Tan signed with Vancouver on March 11, 2011.
He made his MLS debut on March 26, 2011 in a 1–0 loss to Philadelphia Union, and in doing so became the first Chinese-born player to play for an MLS club. On October 12, 2011 Tan become the first Chinese-born player to score in the MLS.