Zhang Linpeng

Zhang Linpeng (Chinese: 张琳芃; pinyin: Zhāng Línpéng; born 9 May 1989) is a Chinese footballer of Hui ethnicity who currently plays for Guangzhou Evergrande in the Chinese Super League.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhang.
Zhang Linpeng
张琳芃
Personal information
Full name Zhang Linpeng
Date of birth (1989-05-09) 9 May 1989
Place of birth Jinan, Shandong, China
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Guangzhou Evergrande
Number 5
Youth career
1996–1997 Jinan Zhengli
1997–1999 Qingdao Hainiu
1999–2000 Guangdong Mingfeng
2001–2005 Genbao Football Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2010 Shanghai East Asia 65 (2)
2010– Guangzhou Evergrande 206 (15)
National team‡
2008 China U-20 6 (0)
2009–2010 China U-23 9 (1)
2009– China 79 (5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 December 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 December 2019
Zhang Linpeng
Simplified Chinese张琳芃
Traditional Chinese張琳芃
Alternative Chinese name
Simplified Chinese张莫斯
Traditional Chinese張莫斯

Zhang is known by the nickname Zhangmos for his similarity in looks and playing style as Sergio Ramos. An offensive minded defender, Zhang is also known for his tackling ability and aerial game.[1] He was highly praised by Italian manager Marcello Lippi who described him as "the best Chinese footballer in the Chinese Super League".[2][3]

Club career

Zhang Linpeng would play as a youngster for the Genbao Football Academy before he graduated to the Shanghai East Asia's first team at the beginning of the 2006 league season. With the club in the third tier, Zhang quickly made an impression within the team when he was part of the squad that won promotion to the second tier at the end of the 2007 league season.[4] Within the second tier, Zhang played a major part in ensuring the club remained in the division and by the 2009 season, the club finished fourth and just missed out on promotion.[5] His performance for his club then saw him receive an unexpected call-up to the Chinese national team where he impressed many by scoring on his debut against Jordan. This then saw Zhang become the most sought after player in China before he transferred to Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande for a fee of ¥12 million in November 2010.[6]

He made his debut for the club on 2 April 2011 in a 1–0 win against Dalian Shide.[7] Throughout the season, Zhang was used as a squad player as Guangzhou won their first ever league title at the end of the 2012 season. He soon established himself as a mainstay in the team's backline during the 2013 season, leading the club to a third straight league title as well as an AFC Champions League title, the first in the club's history.

During preseason before the 2015 season, Zhang sustained a medial accessory ligament tear on his left knee joint on 7 February 2015 in a friendly match against Hangzhou Greentown.[8][9] While recovering from his surgery in Italy, Zhang was linked with Serie A side Inter Milan[10] with manager Roberto Mancini also confirming his interest in Zhang.[11] However, Guangzhou insisted that Zhang was worth €10 million which far exceeded what Inter was willing to pay.[12] After recovering from injury, Zhang came on as a substitute and scored a goal on 3 April 2015 in a 2–1 loss against Henan Jianye.[13] He then went on to score a 60-meter goal on 12 April 2015 in a 6–1 win against Liaoning Whowin.[14] On 28 May 2015, he suffered a reoccurrence of a left knee strain on 27 May 2015 in a 2–0 win against Seongnam FC.[15] On 20 July 2015, Zhang extended his contract with Guangzhou until 31 December 2020.[16] Zhang returned from injury on 12 August 2015 in a 1–0 win against Jiangsu Sainty.[17] On 28 August 2015, Premier League side Chelsea made an offer to Guangzhou for Zhang, hoping to complete the transfer before the summer transfer window closed;[18] however, the deal couldn't be completed due to limited time while the two clubs failed to agree on certain terms during negotiations.[19]

International career

Zhang quickly worked his way up through the various Chinese youth teams, first by playing for the Chinese under-20 national team in the 2008 AFC U-19 Championship where he captained the team to the quarter-finals.[20] This saw him promoted to the Chinese under-23 national team to play in the 2009 East Asian Games where China disappointingly were knocked out in the group stage.[21]

Despite the under-23 national team's failures, Zhang's performances were considered good enough for then manager Gao Hongbo to unexpectedly call him up to the national team even though he was playing for a second-tier side. He made an impressive international debut on 30 December 2009 in a 2–2 draw against Jordan, scoring on his debut as well.[22] After his debut, Zhang was called up to the squad that won the 2010 East Asian Football Championship before establishing himself as a regular for the team that took part in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

Personal life

Zhang is of Hui ethnicity and is a Muslim.[23] He married his girlfriend Wang Qiaozhi on 21 May 2011 and their son was born on 1 September 2014.[24][25]

Career statistics

Club statistics
As of 31 December 2020 [26]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Shanghai East Asia 2006 China League Two ---
2007 ---
2008 China League One 190---190
2009 241---241
2010 221---221
Total 652000000652
Guangzhou Evergrande 2011 Chinese Super League 16120--181
2012 21231701[lower-alpha 1]0323
2013 234411304[lower-alpha 2]0445
2014 27120900[lower-alpha 1]0381
2015 124001003[lower-alpha 3]0254
2016 16070301[lower-alpha 1]0270
2017 222101001[lower-alpha 1]0342
2018 26000801[lower-alpha 1]0350
2019 26021110-391
2020 1710020-191
Total 2061521373011031118
Career total 2711721373011037620
  1. Appearances in Chinese FA Super Cup
  2. One appearance in Chinese FA Super Cup, Three appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
  3. One appearance in Chinese FA Super Cup, Two appearances in FIFA Club World Cup

International statistics
National team
YearAppsGoals
200911
2010132
201151
201240
201380
201490
201581
201670
201770
201860
2019110
Total795

International goals
As of 8 September 2015 [26]
Scores and results list China's goal tally first.
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 30 December 2009 Meihu Sports Centre, Yiwu, China  Jordan 1–0 2–2 Friendly
2 14 January 2010 My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam  Vietnam 2–0 2–1 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier
3 8 October 2010 Tuodong Sports Center, Kunming, China  Syria 2–0 2–1 Friendly
4 8 January 2011 Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Doha, Qatar  Kuwait 1–0 2–0 2011 AFC Asian Cup
5 8 September 2015 Shenyang Sports Center, Shenyang, China  Maldives 3–0 3–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier

Honours

Club

Shanghai East Asia

Guangzhou Evergrande

International

China PR national football team

Individual

Notes
  1. In isolation, 琳 is pronounced [lǐn].
  2. In quick speech, [ʈʂám-].

References
  1. Atkins, Chris. "Zhang giving Chinese game needed boost". espnfc.com. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  2. "里皮确认巴里奥斯广州德比首秀 评国安是最强对手". sina.com. 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
  3. "Cucina italiana e lavoro europeo: qui sto davvero benissimo". La Gazzetta dello Sport. 2012-07-08. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
  4. "China 2007". rsssf.com. 18 Apr 2008. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  5. "China 2009". rsssf.com. 23 Apr 2010. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  6. "恒大巧避足协限价令 1200万天价签约国足红人". sports.163.com. 2010-11-26. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  7. "最贵外援一剑封喉 恒大1-0实德开门红". sports.sohu.com. 2011-04-02. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  8. "张琳芃赴意大利检查伤情 若手术至少休战三个月". sports.sohu.com. 2015-02-12. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  9. "张琳芃自曝赴意大利手术成功 期待尽快重返球场". sports.163.com. 2015-02-14. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  10. "Ausilio blocca il turco Ozyakup Offerto Zhang". La Gazzetta dello Sport. 2015-02-15. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  11. "Mancini, tutti nel mirino "Se prendiamo la porta la Lazio si può battere..."". La Gazzetta dello Sport. 2015-05-04. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  12. "国米欲买张琳芃恒大标价1000万欧元". sports.163.com. 2015-03-14. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  13. "中超-埃神失点球张琳芃建功难救主 恒大1-2建业". sports.163.com. 2015-04-03. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  14. "中超-张琳芃60米吊射埃神两球 恒大6-1胜辽足". sports.sina.com. 2015-04-12. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  15. "张琳芃因膝伤缺阵一个月 悲催!2015年已两度重伤". sports.163.com. 2015-05-28. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  16. "恒大官方宣布续约张琳芃 签五年效力至2020". sports.sina.com. 2015-07-20. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  17. "舜天vs恒大首发：埃神张琳芃领衔5大伤员复出". sports.sina.com. 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  18. "Chelsea transfer news: Mourinho confident of securing defender Zhang Linpeng's signature". The Daily Telegraph. 2015-08-28. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  19. "Zhang's 'dream' transfer to Chelsea off". China Internet Information Center. 2015-09-01. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  20. "MATCH SUMMARY - Afc" (PDF). the-afc.com. 8 Nov 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 19, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  21. "Hong Kong vs DPR Korea - HKFA". hkfa.com. 2009-12-10. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  22. "China PR 2-2 Jordan". teamchina.freehostia.com. 2009-12-30. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  23. "张琳芃:右臂纹身献给妻子 有机会一定回山东效力". sports.163.com. 2013-08-23. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  24. "张琳芃周末登记结婚". Guangzhou Daily. 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  25. "张琳芃喜当爹晒爱子萌照 网友:再生10个组个国足". sports.163.com. 2014-09-02. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  26. Zhang Linpeng at Soccerway
  27. "足协杯-张琳芃传射8024两球 恒大总分5-3贵州夺冠". Sports.sina.com.cn. 2012-11-18. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  28. 足协杯-黄博文世界波救主 恒大总分3-3苏宁夺冠 (in Chinese). Sports.sina.com.cn. 2016-11-27. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Zheng Zhi		 China national football team captain
2016-		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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