A footballer’s career is relatively short, with the average age of retirement being around 35, meaning players must maximise the opportunity to play professionally while they can. This sometimes leads players to participate in leagues that don’t necessarily have the highest competition level, but can provide financial support, and the Chinese Super League is one of those leagues. The league was formed in 2004, roughly around the same time as YouTube was founded, the Xbox 360 was released, and live blackjack became available online. However, despite being relatively young, the league has become extremely established and has seen many notable names. So, let’s take a look at some footballers you may have forgotten who played in China.
Nicolas Anelka
Nicolas Anelka is known for representing lots of the world’s biggest teams in his 19-year-long career. Some of these clubs include PSG, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea, showcasing the level of talent the French forward possessed. Unfortunately for Anelka, he never truly established himself as a top striker. He chose to leave Europe in 2013 to join the Chinese Super League side, Shanghai Shenhua.
The two-time Premier League and Champions League winner spent a single year in China before going out on loan to Juventus in 2013 and signing for West Brom the following season. He only made 22 appearances in China, scoring 3 goals, but added Shanghai to the long list of clubs he has represented.
Ricardo Carvalho
Ricardo Carvalho is regarded as one of the greatest in his position during his time, serving as a stalwart for the likes of Chelsea, Porto, and Real Madrid. He dominated attackers throughout his whole career, but what is less known is his final transfer to China. Throughout his career, he made over 430 appearances and won some very prestigious competitions, including 3 Premier Leagues, a Champions League, a Europa League and a Euros.
Towards the end of his career, Carvalho joined French side Monaco for 3 years, before choosing to move to China and represent Shanghai SIPG for the final year of his career. He made only 4 appearances for the club in 2017 and would retire that same year.
Didier Drogba
Drogba will be forever remembered by Chelsea supporters for his incredible efforts during his nine years at the club, winning four Premier Leagues, four FA Cups, and a Champions League. The Ivorian forward made over 500 career appearances, including a brief stint in China.
After famously winning the Champions League in 2012 with Chelsea, his contract had run out, and he chose to make the move to Shanghai Shenhua; however, he only made 11 appearances, scoring in eight, before he moved to Turkey in hopes that it would provide a more challenging environment for the forward. He returned to Chelsea in 2014, finishing the 2014/15 campaign before moving to America and announcing his retirement in 2018.
Carlos Tevez
From betraying one side of Manchester to getting booked in a Soccer Aid charity game, Carlos Tevez’s reputation falls no shorter than a pantomime villain. Tevez made his debut in the Premier League in 2006, signing for London side West Ham before moving to Premier League champions Manchester United on a two-year loan deal in 2007. In 2009, despite Manchester United offering to sign the forward on a permanent basis, he chose to join bitter rivals Manchester City.
After spending time at Juventus and returning to his boyhood club, Boca Juniors, where he was set to retire, he surprisingly signed for Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua. He spent two years at the club, returning to Boca Juniors in 2018 for a third time after making 16 appearances in China, retiring from the club in 2021.
Obafemi Martins
Obafemi Martins will mainly be remembered for his time at Inter Milan from 2001 to 2006 and his time at Newcastle United from 2006 to 2009, during which he made over 100 appearances for both sides. The Nigerian striker made a name for himself in both the Serie A and Premier League, winning the Serie A. However, his career began to slow down after his time at Newcastle came to an end in 2009, with stints at Wolfsburg, Rubin Kazan, Birmingham City, and Levante, all within a three-year period.
Martins chose to venture to the MLS in 2013, where he spent 2 successful years before making his move to China. He joined Shanghai Shenhua in 2016 and was set to leave the club in 2018 after a hamstring injury. Once he recovered from the injury, he returned to Shanghai Shenhua in 2020, but would soon leave to represent Wuhan in 2020. He ended up spending a total of four years in China, making over 50 appearances, but battled injuries throughout his time there. He opted to end his career in 2020 after a short spell at Wuhan.