Zhang Yaokun
Chinese footballer (born 1981)
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Zhang Yaokun (simplified Chinese: 张耀坤; traditional Chinese: 張耀坤; pinyin: Zhāng Yàokūn; born 17 April 1981) is a retired Chinese footballer.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Zhang Yaokun | ||
| Date of birth | 17 April 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Dalian, Liaoning, China | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Dalian K'un City (head coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1997–1998 | Dalian Yiteng | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–2012 | Dalian Shide | 272 | (16) |
| 2005 | → Sichuan Guancheng (loan) | 26 | (1) |
| 2013–2016 | Guangzhou R&F | 113 | (1) |
| 2017–2018 | Wuhan Zall | 48 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2004–2009 | China | 39 | (3) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2022–2023 | Dalian Pro U-17 | ||
| 2025 | Liaoning U18 | ||
| 2025– | Dalian K'un City | ||
Medal record | |||
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 3 November 2018 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 31 October 2010 | |||
Club career
Zhang Yaokun started his football career in 1998 with Dalian Shide; however, due to an ankle fracture, he struggled to establish himself within the team and it was only once he overcame his long term injury did he start to become a regular. He later became an integral member of the defense and helped Dalian in their dominance within Chinese football by winning league titles in the 2001 season and the 2002 season as well as the Chinese FA Cup in 2001.[1] After Dalian had a disappointing 2004 season, Vladimir Petrović came in as the new manager and would loan out Zhang to Sichuan Guancheng during the 2005 season where he quickly established himself as a key member of the club.[2] He returned to Dalian the following season where he continued to be a key member of the squad and would go on to become their captain.
On 18 December 2012, Zhang transferred to fellow Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F.[3] He made his debut for the club on 9 March 2013 in a 4-2 loss against Liaoning Whowin. On 26 February 2017, Zhang transferred to League One side Wuhan Zall.[4]
On 12 November 2018, Zhang Yaokun publicly announced his retirement from professional football right after Wuhan Zall successfully promoted to Chinese Super League.
Coaching career
On 14 December 2025, Zhang was appointed as the head coach and general manager of China League One club Dalian K'un City.[5]
International career
Zhang was called-up to the Chinese national team for the 2004 AFC Asian Cup where he made several appearances coming on as a substitute and playing in numerous positions in defence.[6] He continued to be a regular for the squad that qualified for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup and he and Li Weifeng were the first-choice centre back pairing during the tournament.[7]
Career statistics
Club statistics
- As of 3 November 2018 [2]
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Others | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| China PR | League | FA Cup | CSL Cup | Asia | Others | Total | ||||||||
| 1998 | Dalian Shide | Chinese Jia-A League | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | [a] | 0 | 0[b] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1999 | 8 | 0 | 0 | - | [a] | 0 | [b] | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||||
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | [c] | 1 | - | 0 | 0+1 | ||||
| 2001 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | 1[c] | 0 | - | 15 | 0 | ||||
| 2002 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 3[a] | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 33 | 0 | |||
| 2003 | 27 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | 5[d] | 0 | 4[e] | 0 | 42 | 0 | |||
| 2004 | Chinese Super League | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | - | 20 | 0 | ||
| 2005 | Sichuan Guancheng | 26 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 27 | 2 | |||
| 2006 | Dalian Shide | 24 | 3 | 5 | 0 | - | 5[d] | 1 | 3[f] | 0 | 37 | 4 | ||
| 2007 | 25 | 4 | - | - | - | - | 25 | 4 | ||||||
| 2008 | 26 | 4 | - | - | - | - | 26 | 4 | ||||||
| 2009 | 26 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 26 | 1 | ||||||
| 2010 | 26 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 26 | 1 | ||||||
| 2011 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 27 | 1 | |||||
| 2012 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 28 | 2 | |||||
| 2013 | Guangzhou R&F | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 30 | 0 | ||||
| 2014 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 31 | 0 | |||||
| 2015 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 7[d] | 0 | - | 39 | 0 | ||||
| 2016 | 26 | 1 | 6 | 0 | - | - | - | 32 | 1 | |||||
| 2017 | Wuhan Zall | China League One | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 26 | 1 | |||
| 2018 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 22 | 0 | |||||
| Career total | 459 | 19 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1+1 | 9 | 0 | 523 | 21+1 | ||
- Appearances in Asian Club Championship
- Appearances in Chinese Football Super Cup
- Appearances in Asian Cup Winners' Cup
- Appearances in AFC Champions League
- Appearances in Chinese Football Super Cup and A3 Champions Cup
- Appearances in A3 Champions Cup
International goals
- Results list China's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 June 2005 | Changsha, China |  Costa Rica | 2–2 | Friendly international |
| 2 | 2 June 2007 | San Jose, United States |  United States | 1–4 | Friendly international |
| 3 | 28 October 2007 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |  Myanmar | 4–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier |