Biography
Who is Li Weifeng?
Early football beginnings
Li Weifeng began his path in professional sports through the Tianjin Locomotive youth academy. His early talent was recognized by the national youth program, which facilitated training opportunities abroad sponsored by Jianlibao. This experience led to his selection for the Chinese under-20 national team and participation in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Following his return from international youth competition, he rejoined Tianjin Locomotive briefly. He soon attracted attention from the top-tier club Shenzhen Ping'an. Despite a contract dispute regarding his transfer fee, he eventually joined Shenzhen in 1998. He quickly secured a spot in the team's defense, playing a role in the club's survival in the league during his debut season.
Domestic and international club career
Li spent several seasons with Shenzhen, where he became a defensive leader. His profile rose significantly during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. This exposure facilitated a loan move to the Premier League side Everton as part of a deal with Chinese sponsor Kejian. He made two appearances for the English club before returning to Shenzhen for the 2003 season.
Back in China, he was named captain under manager Zhu Guanghu and successfully led Shenzhen to their first Chinese Super League title in 2004. In 2006, he moved to Shanghai Shenhua following financial issues at his previous club. Later, he transferred to Wuhan Guanggu in 2008. His time there was marked by a controversy involving an on-field scuffle and a subsequent suspension, which eventually led to the club's withdrawal from the league.
National team and coaching roles
Li made his international debut for the Chinese national team on November 22, 1998, in a match against South Korea that ended in a draw. He was a key figure for the team, participating in the 2000 AFC Asian Cup and the 2002 FIFA World Cup. In 2003, he was appointed team captain by manager Arie Haan and guided the squad to a second-place finish at the 2004 AFC Asian Cup.
His national team tenure faced challenges, including a temporary ban in 2006 following an on-field incident. Although he eventually returned to lead the squad during 2014 World Cup qualifying, the team did not progress past the third round. Following his playing retirement, he shifted into management. He served as vice managing director of Tianjin Quanjian and later took on a head coaching role at Ningbo FC in 2026.
Birthday and age
Li Weifeng was born on December 1, 1978, which makes Li 47 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Li shares the date with 25 other famous people.
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