This is a Chinese name; the family name is Fan.

Fan Zhiyi (Chinese: 范志毅; pinyin: Fàn Zhìyì; born on January 22, 1970^[1][6] in Yangpu, Shanghai^[1][7]) is a former professional football player from the People's Republic of China.

Fan's biggest strengths is his superb fitness, hardworking ethics as well as his excellent positional play as a central defender. The six-foot tall defender is known for his tough tackling and superb aerial ability especially from set-piece plays.

[edit] Biography

A folk hero and football icon in his native country, Fan was a regular fixture in the People's Republic of China national team and has captained the national team on numerous occassions. He is the anchor of the defence and has been capped 109 times for his country before his international retirement.^[8]

In Fan's early playing days for Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese First Division, Fan's versatility as a player meant he played in several positions until he settled into central defense as a sweeper. As a provisional striker, he became the league top scorer with 15 goals in season 1995.^[2]

In season 1998/99, Fan made national headlines when he left Shanghai to join English First Division side Crystal Palace, where he, along with Sun Jihai, became the first Chinese footballers to play in the English leagues. Fan soon established himself as an important player at Palace and was popular with the Palace fans and staff, as well as winning Palace many new fans in the UK and back in China.^[9] He was also captain of the Crystal Palace team for a while and scored several goals, especially as headers. In 2001, he attracted the attention of Liverpool F.C. due to his strong performances both for club and country.^{[citation needed]} The coach of Crystal Palace decided to allow Fan Zhiyi to go on transfer because Fan was spending too much time for the China national football team during the World Cup 2002 qualifiers.^{[citation needed]}

After securing 2002 World Cup qualification for the PRC in October 2001, Fan was transferred to Scottish Premiership outfit Dundee F.C. for £350,000.^[10] He managed to score against Celtic F.C. at Celtic Park during a 3-1 loss with a good long-distance shot after positioning himself well when he received a pass from Nacho Novo.

In March 2002, he moved from Dundee FC to join Shanghai Zhongyuan on loan.

After a spell on trial at Gillingham, Fan joined English Second Division side Cardiff City in November 2002.^[11]

In October 2003 the much-travelled veteran returned to Asia and signed a one-year contract to become player-coach of Hong Kong side Buler Rangers. However his stay in Hong Kong lasted just several months, as in early 2004 he moved back across the border to become the captain of Chinese Division-1 side Zhuhai Zhongbang in Zhuhai. The team was promoted to Super League one year later and renamed to Shanghai Zhongbang.

On a final note, Fan has often stated his desire to move into coaching once he hangs up his boots for good.

[edit] Career history

• Buler Rangers (2005-)
• Zhuhai Zhongbang (2004-05)
• Buler Rangers (2003-04)
• Cardiff City (2002-03)
• Shanghai Zhongyuan (on loan from March-July 2002)
• Dundee (2001-2002)
• Crystal Palace (1998-2001)
• Shanghai Shenhua (1994-1998)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Fifa World Cup 2002
• Player stats at national-football-teams.com

Sporting positions
Preceded by Xu Hong	China Captain 1996-1999	Succeeded by Ma Mingyu
Awards
Preceded by Andy Linighan	Crystal Palace F.C. Player of the Year 2001	Succeeded by Dougie Freedman
Preceded by Li Bing	Chinese Football Association Footballer of the Year 1995	Succeeded by Su Maozhen
Preceded by Peng Weiguo	Chinese Football Association Golden Ball awardee 1995, 1996	Succeeded by Hao Haidong
Preceded by Hu Zhijun	Chinese Football Association Golden Boot awardee 1995	Succeeded by Su Maozhen

China Squad v • d • e China Squad – 1992 AFC Asian Cup Third Place 1 Yubin Fu • 2 Feng Zhigang • 3 Dong Liqiang • 4 Fan Zhiyi • 5 Xu Hong • 6 Li Bing • 7 Wu Qunli • 8 Gao Hongbo • 9 Hao Haidong • 10 Cai Sheng • 11 Li Xiao • 12 Xie Yuxin • 13 Li Ming • 14 Gao Zhongxun • 15 Zhao Lin • 16 Jia Xiuquan • 17 Peng Weiguo • 18 Cheng Yaodong • 19 Zhu Bo • 20 Ou Chuliang • Coach: Schlappner v • d • e China Squad – 1996 AFC Asian Cup 1 Jiang Hong • 3 Wei Qun • 4 Zhang Enhua • 5 Xu Hong • 6 Fan Zhiyi • 7 Hao Haidong • 8 Ma Mingyu • 9 Cao Xiandong • 10 Li Bing • 11 Peng Weiguo • 12 Su Maozhen • 13 Sun Jihai • 14 Jiang Feng • 15 Han Jinming • 16 Li Ming • 17 Gao Feng • 19 Wu Chengying • 20 Ou Chuliang • 21 Liu Yue • 22 Han Wenhai • 23 Xie Hui • Coach: Qi Wusheng v • d • e China Squad – 2000 AFC Asian Cup Fourth Place 1 Ou Chuliang • 2 Zhang Enhua • 4 Wu Chengying • 5 Fan Zhiyi • 6 Li Ming • 8 Li Tie • 9 Ma Mingyu • 10 Su Maozhen • 11 Xie Hui • 12 Qu Shengqing • 13 Chen Gang • 14 Li Weifeng • 15 Shen Si • 16 Xu Yang • 18 Li Xiaopeng • 19 Qi Hong • 20 Yang Chen • 21 Xu Yunlong • 22 Jiang Jin • 23 Fu Bin • 27 Shao Jiayi • 29 Huang Yong • Coach: Milutinović v • d • e China squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 An Qi • 2 Zhang Enhua • 3 Yang Pu • 4 Wu Chengying • 5 Fan Zhiyi • 6 Shao Jiayi • 7 Sun Jihai • 8 Li Tie • 9 Ma Mingyu • 10 Hao Haidong • 11 Yu Genwei • 12 Su Maozhen • 13 Gao Yao • 14 Li Weifeng • 15 Zhao Junzhe • 16 Qu Bo • 17 Du Wei • 18 Li Xiaopeng • 19 Qi Hong • 20 Yang Chen • 21 Xu Yunlong • 22 Jiang Jin • 23 Ou Chuliang • Coach: Milutinović