Xiao Zhi (footballer)

For the Tang dynasty chancellor, see Xiao Zhi (Tang dynasty).

In this Chinese name, the family name is Xiao.

Xiao Zhi (Chinese: 肖智; pinyin: Xiāo Zhì; born on May 28, 1985) is a Chinese former professional footballer who plays as a striker and the current assistant coach of China League Two club Guangdong GZ-Power.

Xiao Zhi
肖智

Xiao Zhi with China at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup
Personal information
Full name	Xiao Zhi
Date of birth	(1985-05-28) May 28, 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth	Luoyang, Henan, China
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Striker, Right midfielder
Team information
Current team	Guangdong GZ-Power (assistant coach)
Youth career
1998–2001	Guangzhou Apollo
2002–2003	Shanghai COSCO Huili
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2006	Nanjing Yoyo	61	(17)
2007–2015	Henan Jianye	189	(23)
2016–2019	Guangzhou R&F	81	(21)
2020	Tianjin TEDA	11	(0)
2021	Hebei Zhuoao	6	(2)
2021–2022	Qingdao Hainiu	36	(8)
2022	→ Liaoning Shenyang Urban (loan)	17	(4)
2023–2024	Guangdong GZ-Power	23	(3)
International career‡
2017-2019	China	17	(3)
Managerial career
2024-	Guangdong GZ-Power (assistant coach)
Medal record Representing  China Men's football EAFF Championship 2017 Japan Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 5, 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 24, 2019

Xiao Zhi
Chinese	肖智
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xiāo Zhì IPA [ɕjáʊ ʈʂɻ̩̂]

Club career

Xiao Zhi started his football career with second-tier football club Nanjing Yoyo,^[1] where he would establish himself as a regular within the team before he was sold to his local football club Henan Jianye for 1.3 million Yuan.^[2] With his new club he would play within the top tier and make his debut for them on March 11, 2007, when he made his first league appearance against Beijing Guoan in a 0–0 draw.^[3] Due to his versatility to play as a winger or striker he would find significant playing time and score his first goal against Changchun Yatai on November 4, 2007, in a 3–2 victory.^[4] By the end of season he would make 23 league appearances and though these often came as a substitute he would still play a large part in Henan's establishment in the Chinese Super League.

On January 27, 2016, Xiao transferred to fellow Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F.^[5] He would make his debut in a league game against Hebei China Fortune F.C. on March 4, 2016, in a 2–1 defeat.^[6] In his first campaign he played 25 times in the league that season, scoring six goals. Xiao signed a contract extension with R&F on January 25, 2017.^[7]

On July 17, 2020, Xiao joined Tianjin TEDA.^[8] He would make his debut in a league game against Shanghai SIPG F.C. on July 27, 2020, in a game that ended in a 3–1 defeat.^[9]

On October 20, 2024, Xiao decided to retire from professional football after the last China League Two home game against Shaanxi Union^[10]

International career

On June 7, 2017, Xiao made his debut and scored for the Chinese national team in an 8–1 win against Philippines.^[11]

Career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of match played December 31, 2020.^[12]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Nanjing Yoyo	2003	Chinese Jia-B League	9	0			-		-		9	0
	2004	China League One	19	4	0	0	-		-		19	4
	2005		15	9	1	0	-		-		16	9
	2006		18	4	0	0	-		-		18	4
	Total		61	17	1	0	0	0	0	0	62	17
Henan Jianye	2007	Chinese Super League	24	1	-		-		-		24	1
	2008		25	1	-		-		-		25	1
	2009		28	7	-		-		-		28	7
	2010		21	1	-		5	0	-		26	1
	2011		16	2	1	0	-		-		17	2
	2012		13	1	1	0	-		-		14	1
	2013	China League One	29	6	2	0	-		-		31	6
	2014	Chinese Super League	21	2	3	5	-		-		24	7
	2015		12	2	0	0	-		-		12	2
	Total		189	23	7	5	5	0	0	0	201	28
Guangzhou R&F	2016	Chinese Super League	25	6	4	1	-		-		29	7
	2017		27	7	3	0	-		-		30	7
	2018		23	7	4	1	-		-		27	8
	2019		6	1	0	0	-		-		6	1
	Total		81	21	11	2	0	0	0	0	92	23
Tianjin TEDA	2020	Chinese Super League	11	0	2	1	-		-		13	1
Career total			342	61	21	8	5	0	0	0	368	69

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
China
	2017	8	2
	2018	7	0
	2019	2	1
Total		17	3

Scores and results list China's goal tally first.^[13]

No	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	June 7, 2017	Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou, China	Philippines	2–0	8–1	Friendly
2.	September 5, 2017	Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar	Qatar	1–1	2–1	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.	January 20, 2019	Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates	Thailand	1–1	2–1	2019 AFC Asian Cup

Honours

Club

Henan Jianye

• China League One: 2013^[14]