Dong Fangzhuo
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[edit] BiographyBorn in the Northern Chinese coastal city of Dalian, Dong began his career as a striker with local Chinese B League side Dalian Saidelong FC. His goals helped them to finish as runners-up in 2002 and he was selected to the Chinese U-23 national team. He then made a big move across town to Dalian Shide FC, the most successful club in Chinese professional football who have won 7 titles from the Jia A League and one Chinese Super League in 2005. Dong signed for Manchester United in January 2004 for an initial fee of £500,000 which could eventually rise to £3,500,000 depending upon appearances. He became the first Asian player to sign for Manchester United and sceptics were quick to speculate the move was as much as to do with merchandising possibilities. After signing for he was unable to play for United in the UK because he had no work permit. The law stipulates non EU players to have played in 75% of their nation's international matches over a two year period to qualify. In Belgium, employment laws were less restrictive and Dong was immediately loaned out to get first-team experience at Belgian Second Division team Royal Antwerp FC. In his first season he scored 1 goal in 9 appearances while in 2004-05 he finished with 7 goals in 22 appearances in all competitions. He did finally play with United on their 2005 pre-season tour of Asia and was given his unofficial debut in a friendly against a Hong Kong XI in which he scored in a 2-0 victory.
He is seen as a future star of Chinese national side and scored his first goal for the Chinese national team in a 4-1 loss to Switzerland in a friendly pre-2006 World Cup warm-up match. Dong began the 2006-07 scoring 11 goals in 15 appearances for Antwerp. On 15th December 2006, almost three years after his original signing with he had made enough appearances for the Chinese team and Dong was finally given a UK work permit. Sir Alex Ferguson recalled him to Manchester and gave the player a new contract until 2010. Dong was added to Manchester United's first-team squad on 17th January 2007. Fangzhuo made his Old Trafford debut for Manchester United in a UEFA charity match against Europe XI on 13 March 2007. He is a regular for Manchester United Reserves, and on 9th May 2007, Dong made his Premiership debut for United against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, partnering Ole Gunnar Solskjær up front. He has been an unused substitute for several UEFA Champions League games. Unlike the stereotypical image of a Chinese person, Dong is tall and muscular. With good physical strength he is an imposing forward with good ball possession and control, speed and shooting. He was also part of the China squad for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification tournament. So far in 93 professional appearances across four teams, he has scored 53 goals.
[edit] Statistics[edit] Honors[edit] References[edit] Related Articles[edit] Recent Dong Fangzhuo ArmchairGM Stories
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