1-2-1 With... Hanjie Chen (Chinese Football Writer)

"love to death" written on fans backs during a game

I've recently thought of the concept of gathering the opinions and views of people from various countries around the world, in order to give an insight to football related issues within that country.  In particular, I'll be targeting nations where football is not the major sport.  I'll then try to establish what status the beautiful game has within that particular country.

First stop, China - the world's most populous nation and host of the most recent Olympic Games. We often hear in the press about European club's touring China, but what do the Chinese think of the European game? How are their own domestic football teams faring? I think it's time we found out from Hanjie Chen, Editor of the popular China Football News website.

Full Name: Hanjie Chen

Job: Editor of China Football News

Q:What football team do you support?

A:Shanghai Shenhua/Chelsea

Q:What is the top football club in China and how does it compare to its counterparts in Europe? And also when compared to other Asian teams?

A: The top football club in China is Shandong Luneng Team (山东鲁能) in last 5 years. This club has been called China's Real Madrid. But unfortunately, compared to other Asian teams, China's clubs are very weak.

The Chinese champions defeating the champions of South Korea, Seognam take a look at the third goal its a cracker...

Q:Who would you say are the top 3 Chinese players playing in the Chinese Domestic league?

A:I think the top 3 Chinese players are Haibin Zhou (周海滨-Shandong team), Peng Han (韩鹏-Shandong team), Zhenyu Du (杜震宇-Changchun team). They are the key players in their respective teams and their position in the team can't be replaced. Peng Han is a striker who had played for China 29 times and scored 10 goals, Zhenyu Du is an attacking midfielder has 24 China caps and scored twice and Haibin Zhou is a defensive midfielder who has played for China 37 times, and spent a season at Dutch club PSV.

Zhenyu Du in action against rivals Japan

Q:Could these three players play in Europe and do you see them moving in the future?

A:They can't play in Europe's top leagues, because Chinese football is still lagging behind Europe in terms of quality.

Q:Who do you consider to be the greatest Chinese footballer ever? And why?

A:HaiDong Hao (郝海东), because his influence is very large in China. (He had 115 caps scoring 41 goals for China, he also spent two seasons in England with Sheffield United.)

HaiDong Hao battles with Lucio at World Cup 2002

Q:Which foreign players would you say have had the biggest influence on Chinese domestic football?

A:Until now, no one.

Q:Which foreign coach has had the biggest impact on domestic football in China?

A: Bora Milutinovic, because he helped China qualify for the 2002 World Cup.

Serbian coach Bora Milutinovic led China to their first and only World Cup Finals appearance

Q:Which foreign teams have had the biggest impact on football in China?

A: AC Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Manchester United are popular in China, I think...

Q:Will we be seeing China playing at a World Cup soon and how good is the Chinese National Team in comparison with other footballing nations in Asia?

A:Chinese National Team is Second-class level in Asia now. Because the Chinese football system isn't very good, this makes the development of Chinese football very slow, so now Chinese football is far behind Japan, Korea, Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Q:In Europe it is always on the sports news when European football teams tour China, what is it like from a Chinese perspective?

A: They are huge.  The Chinese media gives the tours more attention than they have in Europe.

Q:Who is your favorite European Team and why?

A:Chelsea and Real Madrid, because of Jose Mourinho.

At least someone likes Jose...

Q:Which European player is the most popular in China?

A: European footballers are very popular here. These include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xavi, Messi, Fabregas, Torres and so on. Each player has their own fanbase.

Q:What do you think of the decision to allow Russia, rather than England, to host the World Cup in 2018?

A:First of all, I feel sorry for England, but I think it will be a development opportunity for Russian football. Just as Chinese football needs the World Cup.

Q:Finally where do you think the Chinese Domestic League football and the international team will be in ten years time?

A:In ten years, the Chinese League football I feel will grow rapidly, because football has great marketing potential in China.

I would like to thank Hanjie for taking the time to answer my questions. If you would like to know about football in China you can visit Hanjies website www.china-football-news.com.

As usual thanks for taking the time to read and I hope that this entry has given you an insight into football in China.