In today's world football, the status of the national football team is extremely humble, and can even be said to be dispensable. It has long been reduced to a laughing stock. However, there have been many talented stars in the history of the national football team, among which Dong Fangzhuo is the leader. At the age of 19, he joined Manchester United at a sky-high price. At the age of 21, he won the first league golden boot for a Chinese player studying abroad. At the age of 23, he scored the first goal in Chinese Olympic history. Unfortunately, he had already become a ball before retiring at the age of 31.
In 2002, Dong Fangzhuo, who was only 17 years old, was picked by young coach Xu Hong and began to play in League A and B. In 2003, the 18-year-old Dong Fangzhuo shined in the AFC Champions League. In that era when it was common for the national football team to study abroad, Dong Fangzhuo won the recognition of the Premier League giant Manchester United with his outstanding talent. In January 2004, Dong Fangzhuo, who had just turned 19, transferred to Manchester United for a worth of 3.5 million pounds, becoming the first Chinese player to land in a European giant. In that era when Ronaldo was only worth 12 million pounds, 3.5 million pounds was a sky-high price for Chinese players. Dong Fangzhuo's transfer was enough to shock the football world.
However, Dong Fangzhuo joined Manchester United at a sky-high price, but it was not successful in the end. Due to fierce competition within the team and labor certificate issues, Dong Fangzhuo was loaned out after landing at Manchester United. Although he won the league's Golden Boot in the second division, although he scored the first goal in Olympic history on behalf of the Chinese men's football team, although he also Started in Manchester United's game against Chelsea. However, due to serious injuries after the Olympics, Dong Fangzhuo could only bid farewell to Manchester United and embarked on a wandering career.
From Poland to Portugal, from Armenia to returning to the Chinese Premier League, Dong Fangzhuo’s talent has long been exhausted. On January 5, 2016, before he turned 31, Dong Fangzhuo, who had been without a ball for a long time, officially announced his retirement and became another "injured Zhongyong". The reason is that injuries are one aspect, but what is more serious is his irregular living habits. According to media reports, after Dong Fangzhuo announced his retirement, his body was completely out of shape, and his weight even reached 200 kilograms. He was as fat as a ball. How can he play football?
Before joining Manchester United, Dong Fangzhuo had extremely good speed and a sense of touch in front of goal. Whether it is talent or ability, it is rare in the history of the national football team. It can even be said to be the most talented player in the history of the national football team. However, Dong Fangzhuo's final outcome was disappointing, which also highlighted the self-discipline problem of the national football team.
At the age of 19, he joined Manchester United at a sky-high price and scored the first goal in the history of the national football team in the Olympic Games. Dong Fangzhuo has already written his name into the history of the national football team, but he is full of regrets!