Cheng Liang

Cheng Liang (Chinese: 成亮; pinyin: Chéng Liàng) (born 3 March 1977 in Shanghai) is a Chinese former international football player who played as a defender for Shanghai Pudong, Shanghai Shenhua and Shenzhen Ruby.

Cheng Liang
成亮
Personal information
Date of birth (1977-03-03) 3 March 1977
Place of birth Shanghai, China
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Left-back, Defender
Youth career
1995–1997 Shanghai Shenhua
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2004 Shanghai Pudong 88 (7)
2005–2012 Shanghai Shenhua 101 (8)
2010 → Shenzhen Ruby 6 (0)
2016–2017 Shanghai Sunfun 0 (0)
National team‡
2009 China 5 (0)
Teams managed
2016–2017 Shanghai Sunfun
2018 Sichuan Jiuniu
2019 Yunnan Kunlu
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of End of 2012 league season
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 October 2012
In this Chinese name, the family name is Cheng.

Club career

Shanghai Pudong

Originally starting his football career with the Shanghai Shenhua youth team, Cheng Liang would find it difficult to break into the senior team where he was considered too weak and not fast enough to compete in the top tier. Leaving Shanghai Shenhua in 1997, Cheng Liang would instead join second tier club Shanghai Pudong and would eventually start his professional football career in the 1998 league season.[1] After playing for Shanghai Pudong for several seasons he would be part of the squad that won promotion to the top tier.[2] After establishing his club as top tier regulars Cheng would be part of the squad that came runners-up within the 2003 league season and would soon see him transfer back to top tier side Shanghai Shenhua at the beginning of the 2005 league season for 3 million yuan.[3]

Shanghai Shenhua

In the 2005 league season, he would make his debut for Shanghai Shenhua against Qingdao Zhongneng on April 2, 2005 in a 2-0 win.[4] Cheng Liang however found his time limited at left-back due to Sun Xiang being the first choice left back within the team. Cheng Liang would nevertheless still establish himself within the team because of his versatility to also play as a centre-back. From the beginning of the 2009 season, he took the captaincy and on April 16, the club announced that he will also assume the role of assistant manager.[5] His role as an assistant did not last long and when Miroslav Blažević came in to manage the club at the beginning of the 2010 Chinese Super League season he brought his own assistants and during the summer transfer window Cheng was allowed to join Shenzhen Ruby on loan for the rest of the season as a player.[6] When Cheng returned from his loan period he saw his playing time significantly reduced due to injury and his age limiting him to a single game throughout the season against Qingdao Jonoon F.C. on November 3, 2012 in the last league game of the season where Shenhua won 3-0 before he announced his retirement.[7]

International career

Despite already being 32 years old Cheng Liang was to make his international debut against Germany on the 29th May 2009, in an impressive 1-1 friendly that saw him play as a centre-back.[8] He would continue to play as a centre-back for China's following friendly against Saudi Arabia on June 4, 2009 where China lost 4-1.[9] Despite the defeat Cheng Liang has continued to be included in several further squads to add experience towards the team.

References
  1. "Chéng Liàng". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  2. "China 2001". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  3. "讲述成亮足球路 落选健力宝曾发誓：国足请我也不去". Sports.sina.com.cn. 2009-05-27. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  4. "比赛结果 申花SVA2-0青岛中能". Csldata.sports.sohu.com. 2005-04-02. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  5. "申花官方宣布：队长成亮兼任助理教练". Shenhua fc. 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  6. "原申花队长成亮加盟深圳 李毅回归传闻不攻自破". Sports.sina.com.cn. 2010-06-29. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  7. "Shanghai Shenhua vs. Qingdao Jonoon 3-0". Soccerway.com. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  8. "Podolski denies China victory". Espnsoccernet. 2009-05-29. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  9. "Saudi Arabia 4-1 China". Teamchina.freehostia.com. 2009-06-04. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
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