Li Haiqiang

Li Haiqiang (simplified Chinese: 李海强; traditional Chinese: 李海強) is a former Chinese-born Hong Kong professional footballer. He played for various professional clubs and also the Hong Kong national football team. Li played the role of a midfielder and is nicknamed "The Golden Left Foot" because of his brilliant free kick skills.

Li Haiqiang
Personal information
Full name Li Haiqiang
Date of birth (1977-05-03) 3 May 1977
Place of birth Meixian, Guangdong, China
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Centre Midfielder
Youth career
Guangdong Hongyuan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2002 Guangdong Hongyuan
2002–2003 Qingdao Hailifeng 34 (6)
2003–2004 Dongguan Dongcheng 25 (4)
2004–2006 Chengdu Wuniu 4 (0)
2006–2012 South China 84 (12)
2012–2013 Tuen Mun 14 (1)
2013–2014 Eastern 14 (2)
2016 Shenzhen Baoxin
National team‡
2009–2010 Hong Kong 5 (1)
Teams managed
2015 Shenzhen FC (caretaker)
2017 Meixian Techand
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 June 2013
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 June 2012
Li Haiqiang
Traditional Chinese李海強
Simplified Chinese李海强
In this Chinese name, the family name is Li.

Club career

2006–07 season

He signed for South China in 2006. He was appointed as the captain in the second half of the season as the team captain Au Wai Lun served as a reserve player for the majority of matches.

On 21 May 2007, Li Haiqiang was awarded the Hong Kong Footballer of the Year after scoring 6 goals in the 2006–07 season.[1] It was his debut season in Hong Kong First Division League and he was the first Mainland player to receive this award in its 30-year history.

On Tuesday 24 July 2007, he played an integral part of South China's Barclays Asia Trophy 2007 tournament when he scored a terrific free-kick from approximately 40-yards out against Liverpool. The goal embarrassed Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson and recalled memories of Ronaldinho's World Cup 2002 goal against England. South China eventually lost the game by 3–1.

2007–08 season

In the 2007–08 season, Li scored 4 goals, and all of them came from free kicks. Li Haiqiang was named Hong Kong Footballer of the Year at the end of the season for the second year in a row, as well as being named a member of the Best Eleven.[2]

2008–09 season

In the 2009 AFC Cup second-round match against Home United FC, Li Haiqiang scored two goals and helped South China win by 4:0 to progress to the quarter finals.[3] On 1 August 2009, at the Panasonic Invitation Cup against Tottenham Hotspur, in the 68th minute, the referee pointed to the spot following a fairly innocuous challenge by Jake Livermore on Chao Pengfei and Li Haiqiang stepped up to chip the ball into the net, scoring the second goal which resulted in South China's 2–0 victory.[4]

2009–10 season

In the 2009 AFC Cup semi final second leg against Kuwait SC, Li Haiqiang received a back heel pass from Leandro Carrijo and scored in the 65th minute, but was ruled off-side, causing huge uproar from the capacity crowd in the Hong Kong Stadium. South China in the end lost the tie 1–3.[5]

2010–11 season

In January 2011, Li Haiqiang received praise from South China's new signing Mateja Kežman after their first training session together.[6]

In the 2011 AFC Cup, Li Haiqiang scored the third goal for South China against East Bengal FC in the final minutes to lead the match 3:2, but the visitors were denied victory when East Bengal FC scored a late penalty and the match ended 3:3.[7]

In the summer of 2011, Kitchee received permission from South China to approach Li about a transfer, but Li decided to stay with South China.[8]

Tuen Mun

In the summer of 2012, Li joined Tuen Mun.

On 30 October 2012, due to the divestment of Tuen Mun president Chan Keung, various key players, including Li, and the whole coaching team were released by the club.[9]

International career

In 1999, Li was called up to the Chinese National Team's squad, but he did not play in any matches.

After spending two seasons in Hong Kong, Li Haiqiang qualified to play for Hong Kong national football team. His first game was a friendly against Macau national football team in Macau.

Li Haiqiang took part as captain in the 2010 East Asian Football Championship semi final tournament, held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, helping Hong Kong qualify for the final tournament for the first time since 2003, when North Korea withdrew.

On 4 October 2010, Li Haiqiang scored with a left foot volley to help Hong Kong win a friendly by 1:0 against India.[10]

In June 2011, just before the friendly against Malaysia, Li Haiqiang announced that he has resigned from the Hong Kong national football team in March, due to old age.[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of 11 June 2014

Club Season League Senior Shield League Cup FA Cup AFC Cup Others1 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
South China 2006–07 184414130----296
2007–08 163205120----254
2008–09 11300103073--226
2009–10 14130--10100--271
2010–11 11031202121--203
2011–12 141000000----141
Tuen Mun 2012–13 14120--20--20201
Eastern 2013–14 14230--10--00182
Total 112151721221411942017624

1 Others include 2012–13 Hong Kong Season Play-offs.

International
# Date Venue Opponent Home/Away Result Scored Captain Competition
1 19 November 2008 UST Stadium, Macau  Macau A 9–1 0 Friendly (non FIFA "A" international match)
2 25 August 2009 World Games Stadium, Kaohsiung, Taiwan  North Korea N 0–0 0 (c) 2010 East Asian Football Championship Semi-final
3 27 August 2009 World Games Stadium, Kaohsiung, Taiwan  Guam N 12–0 0 (c) 2010 East Asian Football Championship Semi-final
4 18 November 2009 Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong  Japan H 0–4 0 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
5 7 February 2010 Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan  South Korea N 0–5 0 2010 East Asian Football Championship
6 4 October 2010 Balewadi Stadium, Pune, India  India A 1–0 1 (c) Friendly

Honours

Club
South China

Individual

References
  1. Li Haiqiang named HK footballer of the year. (Xinhua) Updated: 22 May 2007 08:13.
  2. (in Chinese)李海強蟬聯香港足球先生 Wen Wei Po. 21 May 2008.
  3. (in Chinese)亞協盃 16強 南華炒內政聯入 8強 Apple Daily. 24 June 2009.
  4. Tottenham Hotspur fall to South China defeat The Guardian. Sunday 2 August 2009 13.42 BST
  5. (in Chinese)紅潮坐爆大球場仍負科軍 南華決賽夢碎 Apple Daily. 22 October 2009.
  6. (in Chinese)基士文點名讚陳七 李海強 Wen Wei Po. 17 January 2011.
  7. Al Wehdat first through in AFC Cup. FIFA.com. (PA) Wednesday 27 April 2011.
  8. (in Chinese)傑志斟李海強觸礁 Archived 24 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Ta Kung Pao. 16 June 2011.
  9. "會長陳強突退出 屯門足球隊逢巨變". Oriental Daily Hong Kong. 30 October 2012.
  10. (in Chinese)李海強助港足擒印度 Archived 24 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Ta Kung Pao. 5 October 2010.
  11. (in Chinese)備戰世盃外圍賽鬥沙特 港隊搵大馬作試金石 Hong Kong Daily News. June 2011.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Cristiano Cordeiro		 Hong Kong national football team captain
August 2009		 Succeeded by
Cristiano Cordeiro
Preceded by
Cristiano Cordeiro		 Hong Kong national football team captain
2010–2011		 Succeeded by
Chan Wai Ho
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