In the 1990s, Fan Zhiyi's name was resounding in Chinese football. As the core force of the national team, he led the Chinese men's football team to the World Cup three times, and finally tasted success in the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
In the world of football, Fan Zhiyi has won numerous honors with his outstanding skills and tenacity. In 1995 and 1996, he was honored as "Mr. Football" for two consecutive years. This was not only an affirmation of his performance on the field, but also a high praise for his personal character.
In 2001, he became the "Asian Footballer" and left a mark on the entire Asian football world.
In terms of private life, although Fan Zhiyi went through ups and downs and failed in two marriages, he never gave up the pursuit of happiness. In 2016, he met ballet dancer Zhang Mengjin and opened a new chapter in his life. This cross-border marriage has become the focus of media and public attention.
In the blink of an eye, in 2023, Fan Zhiyi once again entered the public eye in a brand new way. This time, he was not on the football field, but appeared as the factory director "Lao Fan" in the TV series "Flowers".
The Origin and Glory of Football Legends
On November 6, 1969, Fan Zhiyi was born into a sports family in Shanghai. His father, Fan Jiulin, was an outstanding football player who played for the Shanghai Football Team and became a coach after retiring.
Fan Zhiyi’s mother, Huang Wei, is also an all-around track and field athlete. This family background laid a solid foundation for Fan Zhiyi's subsequent football career.
However, Fan Jiulin's football dream was hindered by his family's overseas connections. His football talent has not been fully utilized, which may become a major motivation for Fan Zhiyi to pursue his football dream in the future.
Fan Zhiyi has been passionate about football since he was a child. He started playing football at the age of 8 and entered the Shanghai Youth Sports School at the age of 12 to start formal football training. Although he suffered from injuries in his early years, this did not stop his love and pursuit of football.
In 1987, Fan Zhiyi’s football talent was discovered by Xu Genbao. Xu Genbao, an experienced football coach and former national team player, saw the potential in young Fan Zhiyi and selected him into the second national football team.
Under the guidance of Xu Genbao, Fan Zhiyi grew rapidly. In 1989, he represented the second national team in the National Football League A and won the championship. In 1991, he became the core of the Olympic team and experienced a more professional training and living environment.
Fan Zhiyi's role in the national team has gradually changed from defender to central defender. His performance on the court is full of strength and wisdom.
In 1992, at the Asian Cup in Hiroshima, Japan, he helped the Chinese team win third place. At the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games, he became a key figure in the Chinese team's silver medal win.
Fan Zhiyi: The Romantic Story and Professional Glory of a Football Superstar
In 1993, by chance, his fate was closely linked to that of stewardess Li Qian. At that time, Fan Zhiyi came back from competing abroad and suffered from a severe cold.
The captain specially arranged for Li Qian to take care of him, and Fan Zhiyi was deeply attracted by Li Qian's carefulness and thoughtfulness. Li Qian is 1.70 meters tall and was born into an educated youth family in Changsha. Her encounter with Fan Zhiyi seemed destined.
Fan Zhiyi’s pursuit is full of persistence and sincerity. At that time, communications were not developed and they could only communicate through public phones. In order to wait for his call, Li Qian often arrived at the phone half an hour in advance. This waiting and mutual longing forged their love.
In 1995, Fan Zhiyi represented Shanghai Shenhua and achieved impressive results in the League A. He topped the scorer list with 15 goals and won the title of "Mr. Football".
The media and fans gave him nicknames such as "General Fan" and "City Hero", which shows his status in the hearts of fans. In December of the same year, Fan Zhiyi and Li Qian held a grand wedding at the Longbai Hotel in Shanghai.
This wedding has become a major event in the sports world. Countless fans gathered in the hotel to witness the happy moment of the couple.The then deputy mayor of Shanghai Gong Xueping personally sent blessings to the newcomers, and the head coach of the Chinese men's football team Qi Wusheng even sent a heavy red envelope.
In order to make the newlywed life more perfect, Fan Zhiyi made a request to the relevant departments to transfer Li Qian to work in Shanghai, and this wish was also fulfilled.
Since then, Fan Zhiyi’s career has become even more dazzling. In 1996, he once again led Shanghai Shenhua to the runner-up spot in League A and ranked among the top in personal goals.
In 1998, Fan Zhiyi went to the UK to join the Crystal Palace team. This move not only marked a new height in his personal career, but also represented the further development of Chinese football on the international stage. Li Qian accompanied him and opened a new chapter of life in a foreign country.
The ups and downs of family and career of football superstars
In 1998, Fan Zhiyi's daughter Fan Sijing was born in the UK, bringing new joy to the family. As a full-time mother, Li Qian's life is full of busyness and challenges.
Fan Zhiyi's home is often bustling with friends, while Li Qian is responsible for taking care of the guests and family. In order to reduce the burden on his wife, Fan Zhiyi decided to send his daughter back to Shanghai to live, while Li Qian chose to study at the British Aeronautical Academy, despite the high tuition.
On the court, Fan Zhiyi performed as well as ever. While playing for the British Crystal Palace team, he was considered one of the most successful foreign players in team history with his outstanding performance.
After returning to China, he helped the Chinese men's football team successfully enter the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, and was awarded the "Asian Footballer of the Year".
But behind this, Fan Zhiyi's marriage life was in crisis. He has a busy social life and often stays out late at night, which makes Li Qian find it difficult to accept. The relationship between the two became tense and they often quarreled.
Fan Zhiyi has his own views on family. He believes it is normal for men to make friends and is a dutiful son who lives with his parents.
He has strict requirements for his wife, and often takes his mother's side when Li Qian has conflicts with her mother-in-law, which makes Li Qian feel depressed.
In 2006, the couple finally decided to divorce. They went through the difficult process of legal proceedings over property division and custody of their daughter.
Fan Zhiyi finally obtained custody of his daughter and paid Li Qian 3 million yuan in compensation. But there were delays in the payment process and you ended up having to pay extra interest.
A new starting point in the love journey and coaching career
Fan Zhiyi remarried in 2007 to Ms. Li, a stewardess of China Eastern Airlines. This marriage also came to an end due to differences in lifestyle.
Although Fan Zhiyi's personal life has suffered many setbacks, his career is still going on. In 2009, he became the coach of the Shanghai U16 men's football team and successfully led the team to the quarterfinals of the National Games. This achievement proves Fan Zhiyi's ability and potential as a coach.
In terms of personal life, Fan Zhiyi still attracts the attention of many women. But after two failed marriages, his requirements for a future partner became clearer: he must be able to accept his daughter and mother, and be willing to live with his parents-in-law.
In 2011, fate once again brought a turning point for Fan Zhiyi. At a friend's gathering in Shanghai, he met Zhang Mengjin, who was 17 years younger than him.
Zhang Mengjin, an actress of Shanghai Ballet, did not know much about Fan Zhiyi's past, but her sweet smile and graceful figure deeply fascinated Fan Zhiyi.
Fan Zhiyi confessed his past and current situation to Zhang Mengjin. Zhang Mengjin's open-minded and forward-looking attitude quickly heated up the relationship between the two. However, this relationship was opposed by both families.
Zhang Mengjin’s parents are worried that the age difference will affect their future life, but Zhang Mengjin firmly believes that Fan Zhiyi’s sports background and good physical condition can overcome the age barrier.
In the end, Zhang Mengjin's persistence moved her mother, and their love gained the understanding and support of their family.
Fan Zhiyi: A football legend spanning emotional twists and turns
His mother, Huang Wei, was full of worries about her son's new relationship, especially considering that Zhang Mengjin is of the same age as Fan Zhiyi's daughter Fan Sijing. But Fan Zhiyi's love for Zhang Mengjin is unwavering. He not only wants to fall in love with her, but also wants to spend the rest of his life with her.
Faced with family concerns and her daughter's resistance, Zhang Mengjin showed rare generosity and tolerance. When Fan Sijing made things difficult for her, Zhang Mengjin didn't care and didn't complain to Fan Zhiyi.
Faced with her mother-in-law's character and nagging, Zhang Mengjin also maintained a peaceful mind. Her way of dealing with the situation finally won the harmony of the family.
In 2016, the wedding of Fan Zhiyi and Zhang Mengjin was held in Hangzhou, symbolizing the victory of their love. In the same year, Fan Zhiyi became a father again, making their family more complete.
In terms of career, Fan Zhiyi’s pace shifted from the football field to the literary and artistic circle. In 2021, he participated in the film "Beyond", and in 2022, he co-launched the interesting commentary "Still Fan Zhiyi" with the "League of Legends" game commentator Guan Zeyuan.
He is also active in multiple variety shows, such as "Go Skiing with the Audience" and "Champions vs. Champions Season 2", etc., showing his versatile side.
In 2022, Fan Zhiyi was elected as the vice chairman of the Shanghai Football Association, which shows that his influence in the football world is still strong.
Although his performance in the TV series "Flowers" did not have many roles, because he was the former "Mr. Football", he attracted special attention from the audience and triggered heated discussions among netizens.
Fan Zhiyi’s life journey proves that he is not only a hero on the football field, but also a persevering fighter in life. After two failed marriages, he finally found true love and built a happy family.
His story inspires countless people. Whether on the football field or in life, as long as you have persistence and courage, it is always possible to usher in a new dawn.
