Fan Chun Yip

Football player infobox
playername = Ruby-zh-p|范|Fan Ruby-zh-p|俊|Chun Ruby-zh-p|業|Yip


fullname = Fan Chun Yip
height = height|m=1.83
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1976|5|2
cityofbirth =
countryofbirth = Hong Kong
currentclub = Happy Valley
clubnumber = 1
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1995–1996 1996–1997 1997–1998 1998–2001 2001–present
clubs = Hong Kong Rangers Happy Valley Yee Hope Instant-Dict Happy Valley
caps(goals) = 0? 0(0) 0? 0(0) 0? 0(0) 0? 0(0) 0? 0(0)
nationalyears = 1998-present
nationalteam = Hong Kong
nationalcaps(goals) = 40 0(0)
pcupdate = April 5, 2008
ntupdate = April 5, 2008

Fan Chun Yip ( _zh. 范俊業; born May 1 1976 in Hong Kong), with the nickname "chu-tsai" (豬仔)(Piggy), is a goalkeeper for Happy Valley AA and the captain of the Hong Kong national football team. Widely considered one of the best goalkeepers in Asia, he was voted the Hong Kong Footballer of the Year in the 2003/2004 season. He has also twice consecutively been voted Goalkeeper of the Tournament in the two recent editions of the East Asian Cup

The Hong Kong team's first choice goalkeeper, Fan is currently playing for Happy Valley in the Hong Kong First Division League. Before joining Happy Valley, he played for Instant-Dict, Yee Hope and Hong Kong Rangers. This is Fan's second spell with Happy Valley, having joined on loan some years previously. He made his international debut on 19th November 1998 against the Vietnam.

Fan Chun Yip made it into the Hong Kong league's Team of the Season four times consecutively between 2001 and 2005, and has been awarded the 'Hong Kong First Division League Most Popular Player' twice consecutively (2004-06).

In 2005, when Fan Chun Yip took his second participation in the East Asian Cup, his excellent performance again impressed foreign presses and football fans. Indeed, he was eventually awarded the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament. Since then, Fan Chun Yip made himself in fame and is recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in Asia (alongside with the Japan National Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi and the R.O. Korean National Lee Woon-Jae).

Personal Honours

Hong Kong Footballer of the Year (Season 2003-04)

Team of the Season 4 times, (Seasons 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04 & 2004-05)

Fans' Footballer of the Year 2 times (Seasons 2004-05 & 2005-06)

Goalkeeper of the Tournament (East Asian Cup) 2 times (2005 & 2007)

Captain of the China-Hong Kong XI

Hong Kong Captain

40 caps for his Nation

Records

Recent News

On 17th November 2004, China was playing against Hong Kong in Guangzhou for World Cup 2006 qualification. Fan Chun Yip performed numerous unbelievable saves, and saved Zheng Zhi's crucial penalty kick. The save ended China's hope of reaching the 2006 tournament on goal difference, with Kuwait finishing above them in the group by virtue of one goal. After the match, the Mainland Chinese press named Fan Chun Yip 'The Bane of China', and Fan Chun Yip received some personal attack and threats; though fans of Hong Kong supported and honoured him as "the Hero of Hong Kong", "Pride of Hong Kong", etc. This has somewhat ironically led to his popularity in China, and Fan has attracted some Chinese clubs' interest.

In 2005, Chinese Super League team Changsha Ginde were interested in Fan Chun Yip and wanted to sign him from Happy Valley, and he verbally accepted the offer. The transfer was called off however, due to the sudden murder of his brother. Fan had no choice but had to stay in Hong Kong to take care of his family. In the meantime, he has promised that he will not join any team in the future except Changsha Ginde, and indicated that he will join them after the painful transition.

On 1st July, 2007, a Reunification Cup was held in Hong Kong to celebrate the re-merging of Hong Kong with China anniversry. A China-Hong Kong XI (Chinese national team including six Hong Kong international players) played a World Star XI. Fan Chun Yip was given the captain's armband by the Chinese national team's head coach. He took part in the first half of the International exhibition match and again impressed highly. His excellence was acknowledged by the fans, who gave him an ovation and chanted his nickname "chu-tsai" (豬仔)(Piggy).

Impressive Performances

On 8th August, 2003, the home team was down 2-4 against Real Madrid in an exhibition match between the Spanish giants and a Happy Valley XI, partly due to the poor performance by the P.R. Chinese National goalkeeper An Qi. With Fan Chun Yip on as a substitute in the second half, the team's performance was much improved. He made a string of excellent saves to keep Real Madrid (with World Class players such as Beckham, Zidane, Raul and Ronaldo) at bay.

In 2005 Fan Chun Yip again impressed on his second appearance in the East Asian Cup, his excellent performances impressing foreign press and football fans alike. Indeed, he was eventually awarded the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament. Fan is now recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in Asia (alongside with the Japan National Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi and the R.O. Korean National Lee Woon-Jae).

On 6th September, 2006, Hong Kong was playing against Uzbekistan in the Asian Cup Qualification Group stages. Fan Chun Yip played as the only man for the Hong Kong Eleven, his supreme excellence also furied Uzbekistan's forward, and spat at him, though the matter is solved. At last, Fan Chun Yip was noted the Man of the Match.

Childhood and early career

Fan Chun Yip was born in Hong Kong, was breed in a 7 member family while he is the youngest one. Back in his childhood time, his 2nd oldest brother (the one who was murdered in 2006) once leaded him to the 7 on-a-side (one of the most popular sport in Hong Kong) game. Because he was the smallest, so he was picked to be the goalkeeper by the seniors. Everyone was surprised that he never scared of the ball, and even dived to save shots from the opponent. (7 on-a-side ground is not grass made, made in concrete instead.)

Since then, every time his brother or friends had a game, Fan Chun Yip keeps the goal. Then time passes, he has built his interest on football deeply.

In 1985, Fan Chun Yip joined the Hong Kong football promotional program, and was picked into the Hong Kong Schools Sport Federation training team, and this leaded to his first step on football career.

After being picked into the Hong Kong Schools Sport Federation training team, Fan Chun Yip was picked to join the Hong Kong Sports Institute because his potential was recognised. From amateur, Fan Chun Yip promoted to the junior team, then promoted to the youth team. Because of his average height, it was not easy for him to proceed and become the first choice keeper of the youth team.

After Fan Chun Yip's promotion to the youth team, he started off his 4 year long accommodated training.

Because Fan Chun Yip was professionally trained by the Hong Kong Sports Institute, he eventually made himself into the Hong Kong youth squad.

Hong Kong Rangers is the First Division club Fan Chun Yip first joined. In a reserve League match, he has injured his digit and was forced to rest for a couple of months. After the recovery of his digit injury, he was named in the Hong Kong Olympic team squad.

After a year of training in Hong Kong Rangers, he was loaned to Happy Valley. Happy Valley gave him the chance to make his debut, and for coincidence, the first opponent was Hong Kong Rangers.

Fan Chun Yip first played professional football with Hong Kong Rangers in the First Division. In a reserve League match, he injured his digit and was forced to rest for a couple of months. He was named in the Hong Kong Olympic team squad following his recovery.

Fan Chun Yip gained a lot of first-team chances in Happy Valley, though he injured his hand which kept in on the bench for months.

In the two years after Fan Chun Yip's departure from Hong Kong Rangers, he joined Yee Hope and Instant-Dict. in the third year after Fan Chun Yip's joining to the club, he helped the club to win the FA Cup, but it was also the last title for the club because the sponsor left the club and the squard was forced to dismiss.

On 8th August 2003's night, Fan Chun Yip made himself in fame, there was an exhibition match against the Spanish giant Real Madrid in the Hong Kong Stadium. In the first half, the home team was down to 2-4 due to the poor performance by the P.R. Chinese National goalkeeper An Qi playing, then Fan Chun Yip came on as a substitute in the second half. He made a string of excellent saves to keep Real Madrid (with World Class players such as Beckham, Zidane, Raul and Ronaldo) at bay in the second half. After this 45-minute, everyone in Hong Kong started to recognise and notice him.

Personal life

Fan Chun Yip married when he was 23 and has a son named Fan Kei Chi. He and his family now live in Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon, Hong Kong. He enjoys war game simulations with his teammates and friends during his leisure time. Fan has indicated that he would like to develop a new career in the entertainment world once his football career ends.

Fan Chun Yip's most admired football players are Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and Italy's number one Gianluigi Buffon.

Fame beyond football

Fan Chun Yip is sponsored by Nike, with all his sportswear provided by the company. His goalkeeping gloves and boots are sewed with his initials on (C Y FAN).

Fan is also the spokesman for two companies, one for skincare and the other for ointment.

In 2005, Fan Chun Yip was invited to be the host for a Hong Kong TV program about sport.

Fan Chun Yip is now also an amateur football live commentator with IPTV's now TV.

Fan Chun Yip was invited to be a visitor in a Olympic related TV programme on TVB in 2008.

External links

Websites:
* [http://www.hkfa.com/zh-hk/player_view.php?player_id=13 Fan Chun Yip - HKFA player profile]
* [http://www.hvaaclub.com/?goto=player&id=2 Fan Chun Yip - Happy Valley player profile]
* [http://www.2009eastasiangames.hk/tc/athletes/fanchunyip.html Hong Kong Athletes' Interviews - Fan Chun Yip]
* [http://fanchunyip.goalgoalgoal.com Fan Chun Yip FanSite]
* [http://piggieswonderland.goalgoalgoal.com Piggie's Wonderland]
* [http://chunyip_nike.mysinablog.com/ My Football Dairy - Fan Chun [e-mail]]

Videos:
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1l04_pNCn0 Youtube video clip of the match between Hong Kong's draw against Asia's third Uzbekistan at home in the Asian Cup Qualification Group Stages on 06-09-2006)]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBbDyC3viig Youtube video clip of a combination of Fan Chun Yip's performance in Hong Kong Jersey.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEVBojOvvgk Youtube video clip of 'the penalty save' which cost China's hope to the 2006 FIFA World Cup]

Galleries:

Interviews:

News:
* [http://www.hkfa.com/includes_files/board_details.php?news_id=4135 Hong Kong 0:0 Uzbekistan Match Report by HKFA.com]
* [http://www.afcasiancup.com/en/tournament/mtindex.asp?aid=45209&cid=1337&mt=11824&sec=105&ssec=246 Hong Kong's Fan frustrates Uzbeks by AFC.com]

Accolades