24 years ago today, Sun Jihai made his English League One debut. On October 17, 1998, in the 14th round of the English Football League (Division 2), Crystal Palace defeated Norwich City 5-1 at home, and the 21-year-old Sun Jihai started for Crystal Palace and played the full game. Their first match for Crystal Palace was against Berry in the first round of the Worthington Cup (English League Cup) on 15 September, where Crystal Palace lost 3-0.
Sun Jihai
Sun Jihai, born on September 30, 77 in Dalian, Liaoning Province, Sun Jihai's father Sun Liangzong was a decatathlete when he was young, and became a famous physical training expert in China after retiring. But at that time, Sun Jihai was a track and field athlete, and by chance, Sun Jihai, who had outstanding physical fitness, was favored by the former Chinese men's football coach Ma Shaohua, and began to practice football from then on.
Under the supervision and guidance of his father, Sun Jihai entered the amateur football team of Xigang District of Dalian City at the age of 10, was selected for the Dalian Junior Team at the age of 13, and was selected for the Dalian Youth Team at the age of 15, but unfortunately Sun Jihai did not become a member of Jianlibao in 93 because of bone problems and went to Sao Paulo, Brazil. On May 28, 1995, he made his debut in the Chinese league match in Dalian 1-1 Sichuan. In the season, he grew rapidly, played 14 league games, and slowly established himself as the main player of Dalian Wanda. The following 96, 97 and 98 seasons played 21, 19 and 18 games respectively to help Dalian Wanda win the league treble as a regular player. Through their own excellent performance, and superb foot skills. Since 1997, he has been an absolute workhorse of the national team, participating in the group stage of the World Cup qualifiers and the top ten rounds.
Sun Jihai's outstanding performance in 1997 also made him firmly establish himself as the main defender of the national team, and impressed Ted Buxton, then assistant coach of the Chinese national team. Ted Buxton then took charge of League One Crystal Palace and desperately wanted Sun Jihai and Fan Zhiyi to join the team. On August 13, 1998, Sun Jihai and Fan Zhiyi went to England together to join the League One team Crystal Palace managed by former Chinese assistant coach Ted Buxton, and this transfer paid Sun Jihai the lowest FIFA transfer standard of 500,000 pounds at that time.
Sun Jihai, who arrived in the team, also lived up to Ted Buxton's expectations and became an indispensable member of Crystal Palace. Played 25 games in a single season. However, due to his unaccustomed to life in England and the consumption of the game, Sun Jihai had the idea of returning to China. At this time, Dalian Shide (which had been renamed at this time) was in a turbulent period, and the team was in danger of relegation, and then the two sides hit it off, and Sun Jihai returned to China to help the team relegate, hurriedly ending his first stay abroad.
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