Gai Yang (Chinese: 盖阳; born 2 January 1987) is a Chinese former footballer.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 January 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Shenyang, Liaoning, China | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 2004–2007 | Marseille | ||
Club career edit
Born in Shenyang, Liaoning, Gai moved to Dalian with his father when he was young.[1] Though he reportedly played for Dalian Shide, Gai himself stated that he merely trained with a number of clubs in China, and was a free agent.[1]
Gai first went on a six-month trial with French club Marseille in January 2004.[2] Having impressed on trial, club owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus personally travelled to Beijing to sign the two-year contract to bring him to Marseille.[3]
In preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the China Olympic team arranged a friendly against Marseille. Gai featured for Marseille in this friendly for a mere 15 minutes, which he later stated was regrettable, as he had hoped to be included in the final squad.[4]
In 2007, with Gai's contract with Marseille set to be terminated, he returned to China.[5] On his return, he was unable to find a professional club to sign with, and eventually resorted to playing amateur football while studying football coaching.[5]
Coaching career edit
In December 2007, Gai obtained student status at the Tongji University, where he would go on to study economics and management. While at the university, he played for their football team.[6] He would go on to the Beijing Sport University to study for his master's degree.[6]
He worked as a coach at Ai Football Club and the Beijing UBest Football Club, both youth football academies.[7] [8]
Personal life edit
Yang is the son of former Chinese international footballer Gai Zengchen.[9] His uncles, Gai Zengsheng, Gai Zengxian and Gai Zengjun were all also professional footballers.[10]
References edit
- ^ a b "中国小将孤独栖身法甲预备役 搜狐体育对话盖阳" [Chinese teenager lives alone in Ligue 1 reserve Sohu Sports Dialogue with Gai Yang]. sports.sohu.com (in Chinese). 19 January 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Soccer teenager signs with French club giant". chinadaily.com.cn. 17 July 2004. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ "Chinois en France, encore de la marge…" [Chinese in France, still a margin…]. fr.uefa.com (in French). 18 January 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ "盖阳请缨愿为国奥效力 杜伊婉言其上场时间太短" [Gai Yang asked Ying to play for the National Olympics, Dujković said that his playing time was too short]. sports.sohu.com (in Chinese). 31 January 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ a b "他17岁加盟法甲豪门 父亲是前国脚 留洋回国后竟销声匿迹" [He joined the French giants at the age of 17. His father was a former international player and disappeared after returning to China]. sohu.com (in Chinese). 22 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ a b "曾經的希望之星：蓋陽—加盟G14的中國第一人" [Once the star of hope: Gai Yang - the first Chinese person to join G14]. zi.media (in Chinese). 25 December 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "爱足球俱乐部主教练进入央视演播室" [The head coach of the Ai football club enters the CCTV studio]. event.chinaschool.org.cn (in Chinese). 2 August 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "教练团队" [Coaching team]. team4china.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Chinese teen Gai Yang joins Marseille". thestar.com.my. 19 May 2004. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ "噩耗！足坛名宿去世，奠定大连足球辉煌时代，四兄弟全是专业球员" [Bad news! The death of a famous football legend has laid the foundation for the glorious era of Dalian football. The four brothers are all professional players]. sohu.com (in Chinese). 5 August 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2022.