Li Yi (footballer)
Li Yi | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 20, 1979 Bengbu, Anhui, China |
| Occupation(s) | Footballer, coach |
| Years active | 1997–2010 (player), 2015–present (coach) |
| Known for | Striker for Shenzhen Kingway; China national team player; head coach of Sichuan Jiuniu |
Li Yi (; born June 20, 1979) is a former Chinese footballer turned coach.
Operating primarily as a striker, he featured for clubs including Tianjin Locomotive, Beijing Guoan, Shaanxi Chanba, and Shenzhen Kingway, with whom he secured the 2004 Chinese Super League championship. Internationally, he represented the China national football team at both the 2003 East Asian Football Championship and the 2004 AFC Asian Cup. Following his playing career, Li Yi moved into management, assuming his initial head coaching position at Shenzhen Ruby before departing in April 2015.
Club career
Li Yi's football journey started within the youth ranks of Tianjin Locomotive, earning promotion to their senior squad in 1997. His impressive showings caught the eye of China's U20 and U23 national sides, which led to interest from top-tier outfit Beijing Guoan. Despite this, he had already committed to a pre-contract with Shenzhen Pingan, who subsequently arranged a loan deal allowing him to play for Beijing during the 1999 season.
At Shenzhen Pingan, Li quickly made an impact by netting 9 goals over 21 matches in the 2000 season. He played a pivotal role in Shenzhen's triumph in the 2004 Chinese Super League and was key to their progression to the semi-finals of the 2005 AFC Champions League, finishing as the club's leading scorer with five goals. His playing style attracted significant online attention and criticism after remarks about protecting the ball akin to FIFA World Cup winner Thierry Henry were taken out of context. This led to his moniker Imperator Li Yi the Great and turned him into an internet meme among Chinese online communities.
The 2005 campaign brought turmoil at Shenzhen following manager Zhu Guanghu’s exit to lead the national team. The new manager struggled to handle senior squad members amid financial instability, prompting a mass departure of players. At the start of the 2007 season, Li Yi moved to Shaanxi Chanba, where he continued until retiring after the conclusion of the 2010 league season.
International debut
Li Yi earned his initial senior national team call-up in 1999 from Chinese coach Bob Houghton while playing for Beijing Guoan but did not make his debut until 2001 under new manager Bora Milutinović. His first appearance came as a substitute during a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round fixture against Cambodia on May 6, 2001, contributing to a 4–0 victory. Despite additional caps, he found it difficult to cement a regular place as Milutinović preferred established forwards such as Hao Haidong. After Milutinović's departure, under manager Arie Haan, Li became a more consistent presence in the national squad.
2003 East Asian Cup
The encounter between China and Korea Republic at the 2003 East Asian Football Championship was heavily influenced by political tensions stemming from territorial disputes. Following China's inaugural participation in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, there was heightened anticipation for breaking their longstanding losing record against Korea—a phenomenon referred to in China as "Koreaphobia." Additionally, Korea harbored lingering grievances from a previous match in 1998 that resulted in injury to one of their key players.
2004 AFC Asian Cup
Li Yi was included in the Chinese national team during the 2004 AFC Asian Cup, which China hosted and ultimately finished as runners-up. He netted his second goal for the national side in a commanding 5–0 victory against Indonesia during the group stage. In the final match, Li came on as a substitute replacing Hao Haidong, but China was defeated 3–1 by Japan. Following this tournament, Li struggled to secure a regular spot on the national roster and was eventually omitted before the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, effectively concluding his international playing tenure.
International goals
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 July 2004 | Chongqing Olympic Sports Center, Chongqing, China | Template:Fb | 6–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 21 July 2004 | Workers Stadium, Beijing, China | Template:Fb | 5–0 | 5–0 | 2004 AFC Asian Cup |
Managerial career
On 22 July 2020, Li was named head coach of the China League One side Sichuan Jiuniu.
Honours
- Chinese Super League: 2004
Variety shows
| Year | Title | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Keep Running | Season 2, Episode 8 |
See also
External links
- "China names squad for soccer friendly", China Daily, May 27, 2005
- "China Crushes Indonesia 5–0 in Asian Cup", July 22, 2004
- Player profile at 163.com (in Chinese)
- Player profile at sina.com.cn (in Chinese)
- 1979 births
- Living people
- People from Bengbu
- Chinese men's footballers
- Footballers from Anhui
- China men's international footballers
- 21st-century Chinese sportsmen
- Tianjin Huochetou F.C. players
- Beijing Guoan F.C. players
- Shenzhen F.C. players
- Beijing Chengfeng F.C. players
- 2004 AFC Asian Cup players
- Shenzhen F.C. managers
- Men's association football forwards
- Chinese Super League players
- Chinese football managers
- Chinese association football commentators