Facebook Twitter
MUFC Logo
dong_fangzhou

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-V-W-X-Y-Z

Click on above letter for surname of player
Dong Fangzhou

PWDLFA

Search for a Player
Current Team
Name: Dong Fangzhou Nationality: China
Position: Forward Signing Information: Transferred from: Dalian Shide, 13/01/2004, £3.5m
Birthdate: 23-01-1985 Years at Club: 2004-2008
Age: (39) Debut: 09/05/2007 v Chelsea (A) 0-0 (Premiership)
Birthplace: Dalian, Liaoning, China Previous clubs: Dalian Saidelong, Dalian Shide, Royal Antwerp (loan)
Height: 6' 1" (1.85m) Farewell to Manchester United: Contract cancelled by mutual consent 28/08/2008
Weight: 11st 11lbs (74.84kg) Passed Away:
Dong Fangzhuo is a former Chinese footballer who made history by becoming the first player from China to sign for Manchester United. Known for his pace and potential, Dong's move to Manchester United was seen as a significant milestone for Chinese football. However, despite showing early promise, his time at Old Trafford was marked by limited playing opportunities, and he eventually struggled to make an impact at the highest level. Nevertheless, Dong remains a notable figure as a pioneer for Chinese players in European football. Early Career and Move to Manchester United Dong began his career at Dalian Shide, one of China’s most successful clubs at the time. His performances as a young forward with speed and goal-scoring potential attracted the attention of Manchester United, who signed him in 2004 for a reported fee of £500,000, which could rise to £3.5 million depending on appearances and performance bonuses. However, due to work permit issues in the UK, Dong was initially unable to play for Manchester United and was loaned out to Royal Antwerp in Belgium to gain experience and meet the eligibility criteria for a work permit. Loan Spell at Royal Antwerp (2004–2006) During his time at Royal Antwerp, Dong showed glimpses of his potential, becoming a key player for the club. His pace, strength, and ability to score goals made him one of Antwerp’s standout performers. He scored 35 goals in 61 appearances during his loan spell, raising hopes that he could make an impact when he returned to Manchester United. Manchester United Career (2004–2008) Dong returned to Manchester United in 2006 after securing a work permit, and made his debut in a Premier League match against Chelsea in May 2007, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Although he had some opportunities to feature for the first team, including in the League Cup and Champions League, Dong’s appearances were limited due to intense competition from more established forwards like Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Carlos Tevez. In total, Dong made only three appearances for Manchester United’s first team and did not score any goals during his time at the club. Despite the limited game time, his signing generated significant media attention in China and helped strengthen Manchester United’s commercial ties with the country. Post-Manchester United Career After leaving Manchester United in 2008, Dong had a brief spell with Legia Warsaw in Poland, but he struggled to settle. He later returned to China, playing for several clubs, including his former team Dalian Shide, before joining Portimonense in Portugal and retiring from professional football in 2014. International Career with China Dong also represented the China national team, earning 13 caps and scoring 1 goal. Although he never fully established himself as a regular for the national team, Dong’s presence on the international stage helped raise the profile of Chinese footballers abroad. While Dong Fangzhuo’s time at Manchester United did not lead to long-term success, his signing remains significant as a trailblazer for Chinese footballers in Europe. His move to United paved the way for future Chinese players to pursue careers in European football, and his journey continues to be an important chapter in the story of Chinese football's globalization.
Goals Appearances Opponent Manager Club Manager
Stadium Competition Opponents Opponent Nationality
Red cards  
 
 
League League Cup FA Cup Charity Shield European Cup Europa League Super Cup Cup Winners Cup Inter-Continental Cup World Clubs Cup    
Season Goals Season Appearances
No Season League Goals League Appearances League Cup Goals League Cup Appearances FA Cup Goals FA Cup Appearances Charity Shield Goals Charity Shield Appearances European Cup Goals European Cup Appearances UEFA Cup Goals UEFA Cup Appearances Super Cup Goals Super Cup Appearances Cup Winners Cup Goals Cup Winners Cup Appearances Inter-Continental Cup Goals Inter-Continental Cup Appearances Club World Cup Goals Club World Cup Appearances Season
Goals
Season
Apps
1 2006-2007 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2 2007-2008 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
TOTALS 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
Matches Played

 

About this site

This site was originally conceived by Mark Graham and launched in 1996, the oldest Manchester United page on the internet today, built to preserve & showcase the history of the club & share results, stats & information of Manchester United.
Since it's inception it has grown considerably with the gargantuan contribution of Roy Redshaw & research of Jim Briggs, Charbel Boujaoude & Rob Compton.

West Cumbria Reds Branch Flag.......as seen behind the Stretford End @ all Home games  

MUFCINFO.com is not an official Manchester United website.
All pages are designed, maintained and copyright (C) Mark Graham.
Email: mufcinfo@sky.com