Zhang Xiaorui
Encyclopedia
Zhang Xiaorui is a Chinese
professional footballer
and manager. He is currently working for Tianjin Tuanbo New City
.
for a five-year training programme sponsored by Jianlibao and called the Chinese Jianlibao Youth Football Team. After graduating through the Jianlibao Youth Team he would move to Tianjin Teda F.C. to start his professional football career. He would show his potential when he would quickly establish himself as an integral member of the team and would personally win the Young Player of the Year award at the end of the 1999 league season.
side Alemannia Aachen
and play in the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga
during 2001 as part of a loan deal. He, however found it differcult to establish himself within the team and would only make five league appearances before he returned to Tianjin Teda F.C. His return to China however saw his performances fluctuate due to injury the club allowed him to leave at the end of the 2004 league season.
in 2005 where he showed some of the skill and consistency that was missing from his performances. By his next season with the club he had become an integral member of the team (now known as Shanghai United F.C.
) and help them to a mid-table finish. The 2007 league season, however saw Shanghai Shenhua
merge with the club and Zhang Xiaorui would lose his place within the enlareged squad. In 2008, he was hired to be a player-manager of Chinese Yi League club Tianjin Tuanbo New City
, however he did very little playing and would official retire as a player in 2009.
would include Zhang Xiaorui into his squad to make his debut in a friendly against USA
on January 29, 1997 in a game that China won 2-1. He would go on to play for the Chinese U-20
team that took part in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
and once the tournament finished he was one of several players that would graduate from the Chinese Jianlibao Youth Football Team to the senior team along with Li Jinyu
, Li Tie
and Sui Dongliang
. He would go on to score his first goal against Bosnia-Herzegovina in a friendly on March 3, 1997 in a 3-0 win. After playing in several FIFA World Cup qualification
games he was dropped from the team after China did not qualify. After several years out being dropped from international football Zhang Xiaorui would return to the senior team when the new Chinese Head coach Bora Milutinović would include him in the squads that were playing friendlies in preparation for the 2000 AFC Asian Cup
, however once these ended the manager decided not to call him into the squad anymore.
. In his first season he would guide the team to a second place finish in the Southern Group and a place in the play-offs where they were unable to win promotion. He was sacked on 10 March 2010,with Belgian
manager Patrick De Wilde take in charge.
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...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and manager. He is currently working for Tianjin Tuanbo New City
Tianjin Tuanbo New City
Tianjin Songjiang is a Chinese football club based in Tianjin, China.Club Chairman Hao Haidong is a former Chinese football star.-Results:*As of the end of 2011 seasonAll-time League Rankings-Name Changes:...
.
Early career
As with all the most promising young Chinese players Zhang Xiaorui would quickly be included in the short-lived Chinese national youth team program to study football abroad in BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
for a five-year training programme sponsored by Jianlibao and called the Chinese Jianlibao Youth Football Team. After graduating through the Jianlibao Youth Team he would move to Tianjin Teda F.C. to start his professional football career. He would show his potential when he would quickly establish himself as an integral member of the team and would personally win the Young Player of the Year award at the end of the 1999 league season.
Alemannia Aachen
He would attract the interests of GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
side Alemannia Aachen
Alemannia Aachen
Alemannia Aachen is a German football club from the western city of Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia. A long term fixture of the country's second division, Alemannia enjoyed a three-year turn in the top flight in the late 1960s and, after a successful 2005–06 campaign, returned to first division play...
and play in the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
during 2001 as part of a loan deal. He, however found it differcult to establish himself within the team and would only make five league appearances before he returned to Tianjin Teda F.C. His return to China however saw his performances fluctuate due to injury the club allowed him to leave at the end of the 2004 league season.
Move to Shanghai
Attempting to resurrect his career he would join Shanghai ZobonShanghai 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...
in 2005 where he showed some of the skill and consistency that was missing from his performances. By his next season with the club he had become an integral member of the team (now known as Shanghai United F.C.
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 help them to a mid-table finish. The 2007 league season, however saw Shanghai Shenhua
Shanghai Shenhua
Shanghai Shenhua is a professional Chinese football club currently playing in Chinese Super League. The club is currently owned by Zhu Jun , Shanghai SVA Group, SMEG and Huangpu Investment Ltd. . The current head coach is Dražen Besek...
merge with the club and Zhang Xiaorui would lose his place within the enlareged squad. In 2008, he was hired to be a player-manager of Chinese Yi League club Tianjin Tuanbo New City
Tianjin Tuanbo New City
Tianjin Songjiang is a Chinese football club based in Tianjin, China.Club Chairman Hao Haidong is a former Chinese football star.-Results:*As of the end of 2011 seasonAll-time League Rankings-Name Changes:...
, however he did very little playing and would official retire as a player in 2009.
International career
As part of the promising young Chinese players that were studying abroad the Chinese Head coach Qi WushengQi Wusheng
Qi Wusheng is a Chinese football coach and a former international player.-Playing career:Despite being born in Shandong, Wusheng would go on to play for teams within Liaoning before he would be selected for the Chinese national team. As a footballer, he played as a centre back and was known for...
would include Zhang Xiaorui into his squad to make his debut in a friendly against USA
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
on January 29, 1997 in a game that China won 2-1. He would go on to play for the Chinese U-20
China national under-20 football team
The China national under-20 football team, also known as the China Youth Team , represents the People's Republic of China in international football competitions in the FIFA U-20 World Cup and the AFC Youth Championship, as well as any other under-20 international football tournaments...
team that took part in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship was the 11th staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship. It was held from June 16 to July 5, 1997 in Malaysia.-Venues:-Qualification:The following 24 teams qualified for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship...
and once the tournament finished he was one of several players that would graduate from the Chinese Jianlibao Youth Football Team to the senior team along with Li Jinyu
Li Jinyu
Li Jinyu is a former Chinese international association football player who predominantly played for Liaoning FC and Shandong Luneng as a striker in the Chinese Super League...
, Li Tie
Li Tie
Li Tie is a professional Chinese international footballer who currently plays for Liaoning Whowin F.C. in the Chinese Super League. Starting his career playing for Liaoning F.C. Li would rise to prominence during the 1999 Chinese league season when Liaoning came runners-up within the league...
and Sui Dongliang
Sui Dongliang
Sui Dongliang is a former Chinese professional footballer. He played for Bayi Football Team and Beijing Guoan during his career.-Bayi Football Team:...
. He would go on to score his first goal against Bosnia-Herzegovina in a friendly on March 3, 1997 in a 3-0 win. After playing in several FIFA World Cup qualification
FIFA World Cup qualification
The FIFA World Cup qualification is the process that a national association football team goes through to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals. The FIFA World Cup is a global event, so qualification is required to reduce the large field of participants from about 200 to 32.Qualifying tournaments...
games he was dropped from the team after China did not qualify. After several years out being dropped from international football Zhang Xiaorui would return to the senior team when the new Chinese Head coach Bora Milutinović would include him in the squads that were playing friendlies in preparation for the 2000 AFC Asian Cup
2000 AFC Asian Cup
The Asian Football Confederation's 2000 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Lebanon between October 12 and October 29. Japan defeated defending champion Saudi Arabia in the final match in Beirut.-Qualification:...
, however once these ended the manager decided not to call him into the squad anymore.
Management career
In 2008 Zhang Xiaorui was hired to be a player-manager of Chinese Yi League club Tianjin Tuanbo New CityTianjin Tuanbo New City
Tianjin Songjiang is a Chinese football club based in Tianjin, China.Club Chairman Hao Haidong is a former Chinese football star.-Results:*As of the end of 2011 seasonAll-time League Rankings-Name Changes:...
. In his first season he would guide the team to a second place finish in the Southern Group and a place in the play-offs where they were unable to win promotion. He was sacked on 10 March 2010,with Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
manager Patrick De Wilde take in charge.