13 Facts About Zhang Enhua

Zhang Enhua was a Chinese professional football player and coach.

Zhang Enhua began his professional football career when he joined his local native Chinese football team Dalian Wanda FC at the beginning of the 1994 league season.

Nevertheless, the following season would see Zhang Enhua help Dalian stamp their dominance within the league and for the next three seasons they would win consecutive league titles.

In 2000, Zhang was made a transfer target of second tier English club Grimsby Town and was then brought to the club on a 3-month loan deal to play in the Football League Championship.

Zhang Enhua was originally sent in as cover for the injured Peter Handyside, and after a nervous first game, he settled into life at Grimsby, even scoring three times for the club.

Lawrence admitted talking to the club over a possible deal being made more permanent but his wages were too big for the club, and Zhang Enhua departed the club after his loan spell.

Zhang Enhua is still regarded as a minor cult hero amongst Grimsby supporters, who took very well to the player while he played in England.

Zhang Enhua returned to China to play for Dalian Wanda once more in time to help win another league title and would be named in the Chinese squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

On 19 May 2002, Zhang Enhua was included in China's 23-man squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but eventually did not make an appearance in the tournament as China was knocked out in the group stage.

Zhang Enhua retired in 2006 and took up coaching in Hong Kong.

On 2 March 2011, it was announced that Zhang Enhua would be returning to England to complete his coaching badges with the Football Association, and that he would return to former club Grimsby Town as a special guest for the club's home fixture with AFC Wimbledon on 5 March.

Zhang Enhua described his visit to the club as a homecoming.

Zhang Enhua died on 29 April 2021, one day after his 48th birthday.