Zhang Honggen

Zhang Honggen
張宏根

Personal information
Full name	Zhang Honggen
Date of birth	(1935-11-27)27 November 1935
Place of birth	Shanghai, China
Date of death	25 November 2003(2003-11-25) (aged 67)
Place of death	China
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
	Shanghai Youth Football Team
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	South China
International career
1954–1965	China	51	(3)
Managerial career
1970–1973	Beijing Youth Team
1977	China
1979	China
1982	China
1994	Dalian Wanda
1999	Chengdu Blades
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 7, 2010

Zhang Honggen (

.

Playing career

Zhang Honggen began his football career playing for the South China team until he turned eighteen when he was selected by the Chinese Head coach Li Fenglou to take part in China's first ever qualification for the 1958 FIFA World Cup.^[1] Despite not qualifying he was recognised as being China's best ever player.^[2] As a vital member of the Chinese team and was praised for being technically sophisticated and having delicate footwork with a clear-head who was also good at both defensive and offensive play. This saw him remain a vital member of the team for several years even though China did not enter any further competitions and by 1965 Zhang Honggen retired in due to an injury.

Management career

Despite being only being thirty years old when he retired, Zhang Honggen eventually moved to management with Beijing Youth Team in 1970. After several seasons he replaced

he only served for a short period because he was diagnosed of gastric cancer and had to resign, and in 2003 he died of gastric pain.

Honours

Manager

• 1994

References

• Chinese Soccer

External links

• Zhang Honggen Biography at titan24.com