Sun Xiang is a Chinese former professional footballer who played as a left back.
10 Facts About Sun Xiang
2.
Sun Xiang played for Shanghai Shenhua, Guangzhou Evergrande, Shanghai SIPG in his native country and spent time on loan at Dutch club PSV Eindhoven and Austrian club Austria Wien, he is the first Chinese player to play in the UEFA Champions League.
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Sun Xiang started his football career playing for Shanghai 02 before the club was taken over by Shanghai Shenhua.
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Sun Xiang was then promoted to the club's first team in the 2002 season along with his twin brother Sun Ji where they both quickly established themselves within the team.
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Sun, along with Sun Ji, attracted the interests of multiple clubs abroad and had trials with Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven in 2006, but PSV decided to not sign the pair.
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On 1 July 2008, Sun Xiang was loaned to Austrian Bundesliga side Austria Wien on a one-year deal with the possibility of a one-year extension, becoming the first ever Chinese footballer to play in the Austrian Bundesliga.
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On 28 April 2010, Sun Xiang announced that he gave up joining A-League side Sydney FC and transferred to second-tier side Guangzhou Evergrande instead.
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On 5 January 2015, Sun Xiang transferred to fellow Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG.
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In December 2016, it was revealed that Sun Xiang was diagnosed as highly aggressive B-cell lymphoma.
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On 6 February 2017, Shanghai SIPG announced Sun Xiang had left the club due to "physical problems".