13 Facts About Fan Zhiyi

Fan Zhiyi is a Chinese coach and former international footballer.

Fan Zhiyi played as a defender for Shanghai Shenhua, Crystal Palace, Dundee, Shanghai COSCO Huili, Cardiff City, Buler Rangers and Shanghai Zobon.

Fan Zhiyi was considered a trailblazer in his native homeland when Sun Jihai and he became the first two Chinese footballers to play in the English leagues, joining Crystal Palace in 1998.

Fan Zhiyi has since gone on to become a football coach and had his first stint as manager at Shanghai East Asia.

Fan Zhiyi was considered a talented youngster and integrated into the China national B team which was allowed to take part in the Chinese football league system for a season.

Fan Zhiyi soon established himself as an important player at Crystal Palace and was very popular with the fans and staff as well as winning the club many new fans back in China.

Fan Zhiyi was the captain of Crystal Palace for a while and scored several important goals for the club.

Fan Zhiyi led the club to promotion to the Chinese Super League one year later and the club renamed to Shanghai Zobon after it moved to Shanghai.

Fan Zhiyi left the club after the 2005 season and joined Buler Rangers for a second stint but, after five games, he decided to end his playing career and retired.

Fan Zhiyi was a key veteran of the China national team that qualified for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, their first time qualifying for the tournament.

Fan Zhiyi often stated that his desire was to move into management and had brief spells as an assistant coach with Buler Rangers and Shanghai Zobon while he was still playing.

Fan Zhiyi became manager of China League One side Shanghai East Asia in 2010, but he was sacked at the end of the 2010 season.

Between 2015 and 2018, Fan Zhiyi worked as the manager of Shanghai Shenhua youth team.