Sun Xiang

Football player infobox
playername = Sun Xiang
孙祥


fullname = Xiang Sun
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|1|15
cityofbirth = Shanghai
countryofbirth = China
height = height|meters=1.80
currentclub = FK Austria Wien
clubnumber = 3
position = Defender
youthyears = 1995–1997
1997–2000
youthclubs = Shanghai Cable 02
Shanghai Shenhua
years = 2000–
2007
2008–
clubs = Shanghai Shenhua
→ PSV Eindhoven (loan)
→ FK Austria Wien (loan)
caps(goals) = 121 (11)
005 0(0)
001 0(0)
nationalyears = 2002–
nationalteam = China
nationalcaps(goals) = 027 0(4)
pcupdate = 22:32, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 22:32, 19 August 2008 (UTC)

Sun Xiang (zh-c|c=孙祥) (born January 15, 1982 in Shanghai) is a Chinese football player who currently plays as a defender for FK Austria Wien on loan from Shanghai Shenhua.

Sun, and his twin brother Sun Ji both had trials with Dutch team PSV Eindhoven late in 2006, but PSV decided they would not sign the pair. However, PSV had a change of heart, and decided to sign the defender on loan for the latter half of the 2006–07 season. The club had an option to sign Sun on a three year contract at the end of the season. The announcement came a day after Sun appealed to be released by his club. "The Dutch proposal is a great opportunity for me to take my career to a new level and I just can't let it slip through my fingers," Sun told the Shanghai Daily. "I am appealing to Shenhua to let me go," he said before the deal.

Sun made his debut on February 17, 2007, against Heracles Almelo as a left back. Then manager Ronald Koeman remarked that Sun had a "very deserving debut" and contributed to PSV through his good vision and precise passing. Sun is the first Chinese footballer to play in Holland.

On February 20, Sun became the first Chinese footballer to play in a UEFA Champions League match, as he played for PSV in a 1–0 win over Arsenal. After the end of his loan period, he was rejected by PSV and not awarded with a long-term contract despite appeals from the player of his desire to stay with the Dutch side.

Vitesse, current home of Chinese import, Yu Hai, had shown interest but negotiations with Shenhua and the player stalled and eventually fell through.

On July 1, 2008, Austria Vienna signed Sun on a one year deal with the possibility of a one year extension. Like before in the Eredivisie and Champions League, Sun had the honour of being the first Chinese footballer to play in the Austrian Bundesliga.

Club Career Stats

Last update: 19 August 2008

International Goals

External links

* [http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=8085&pn=Sun_Xiang Sun Xiang profile with detailed statistics and biography timeline]
* [http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/SPORTS/CO/IGCOParticipantInfo.aspx?Register=5858754 Player profile - doha-2006.com]
* [http://www.national-football-teams.com/v2/player.php?id=8841 Player profile - national-football-teams.com]
* [http://www.pbase.com/tvw/image/74405154/original Sun Xiang photo by Tvw]