Hao Haidong facts for kids

Hao Haidong (simplified Chinese: 郝海东; traditional Chinese: 郝海東; pinyin: Hǎo Hǎidōng; born 9 May 1970) is a famous Chinese former football player. He is known for being China's top goalscorer of all time.

During his career, he played for teams like Bayi Football Team, Dalian Shide, and Sheffield United. He won six league titles and two Chinese FA Cups. He also received the Chinese Football Association Player of the Year award and was the top goalscorer three times in the Chinese Jia-A League. After retiring from playing, he briefly managed Dalian Shide. He also worked as a general manager and chairman for other football clubs. In 2019, Hao married former badminton champion Ye Zhaoying.

Playing for Clubs: Hao Haidong's Football Journey

Starting Strong: Bayi Football Team Years

Hao Haidong began his football journey by moving up through the ranks at Bayi Football Team. In 1994, during a game, Hao was involved in an incident with another player. This led to him being banned from playing for six months by the Chinese Football Association. Because of this, he could not play for the Chinese national team in the 1994 Asian Games.

Even with this setback, Hao played very well for Bayi. However, the team faced challenges because all their players had to be active military members. This made it hard for the club to become fully professional. Hao wanted to earn more money and win more trophies. So, in 1997, he moved to Dalian Shide, who were the league champions. This transfer cost a record amount of 2,200,000 yuan at the time.

Becoming a Star: Dalian Shide Success

Joining Dalian Shide was a huge success for Hao. In his first season in 1997, he helped the team win the league title and the Chinese FA Super Cup. He also won the Golden Boot (for most goals) and Golden Ball (for best player) awards himself. The next year, Hao continued to win more league titles and personal awards. His team almost won the Asian Club Championship as well.

Hao was praised for his football skills and was even called the "Chinese Alan Shearer" because he scored so many goals. However, he sometimes got into trouble on the field. In 1998, he was fined for his actions during a game and was suspended for two matches. He also received a one-year ban from the Asian Football Confederation for showing poor sportsmanship towards a referee. This ban meant Hao missed most of the 1999 league season. Despite this, he kept scoring many goals. He helped Dalian Shide win several more league titles, the Chinese FA Cup, and reach the finals of the Asian Cup Winners' Cup. He was so important to the team that when their manager left, Hao was asked to temporarily manage the team.

A Short Time Abroad: Sheffield United Experience

By January 2005, Hao was nearing the end of his playing career. He got a chance to play in England for English Championship team Sheffield United. This club was interested in him because they wanted to connect with the growing football market in China. Dalian Shide let him go as a thank you for his great service. Sheffield United signed him for a very low transfer fee of just £1 in 2005, making it a symbolic move.

While at Sheffield United, Hao faced injuries. He mostly worked as a coach in the club's youth academy. He only played in one match, as a substitute, in the 2005–06 FA Cup in January 2006. After this, he retired from playing and returned to China.

Playing for His Country: China National Team

Hao had a fantastic career playing for the Chinese national team. He played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which is a huge achievement for any footballer. He is also the record top goalscorer for China, with 41 goals. Even though China did not make it to the final qualifying round for the 2006 World Cup, Hao was a key player in their efforts. Many people consider Hao to be the best striker from China in the last twenty years.

Hao Haidong's Family Life

Hao Haidong has a son, Runze Hao, who is also a professional football player. He also has a daughter named Hao Runhan. Hao married former badminton champion Ye Zhaoying in 2019. They currently live in Málaga, Spain.

Speaking Out: Hao Haidong's Views

On June 4, 2020, Hao Haidong and his wife Ye Zhaoying spoke out publicly about their concerns regarding certain issues in China. They talked about how professional sports were managed and also mentioned topics like Tibet, Hong Kong, and the COVID-19 pandemic. They said that "Football in China is a reflection of the country... it's not the players that make it worse, it's the bureaucrats that damage the whole business by ignoring the rules." They also supported an idea for a "New Federal State of China."

After they spoke out, the Chinese government reacted strongly. They first criticized Hao and Ye. Then, they removed all information about them from the Chinese internet. Their social media accounts were deleted, and their profiles on major sports websites in China disappeared. A few days later, in an interview, Hao and Ye repeated their concerns. They said they were willing to speak up for human rights, even if it meant facing difficulties. They also mentioned that many people in China feel the same way but are afraid to speak out.

It is very rare for a successful Chinese sports star to speak so openly against the government. People who criticize the government often face serious consequences. Before this, Hao had often spoken about social and sports issues, but he had not directly challenged the government in this way.

Honours and Achievements

Bayi

• Chinese Jia-A League: 1986
• Chinese FA Cup: 1990

Dalian Shide

• Chinese Jia-A League: 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002
• Chinese FA Cup: 2001
• Chinese Super Cup: 1996, 2000, 2002

Individual Awards

• Chinese Football Association Player of the Year: 1998
• Chinese Jia-A League Team of the Year: 2001
• Chinese Jia-A League Top goalscorer: 1997, 1998, 2001
• IFFHS Legends

See also

In Spanish: Hao Haidong para niños

• List of top international men's football goalscorers by country
• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps