Fan Chun Yip


Fan Chun Yip is a Hong Kong retired professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Widely considered one of the best goalkeepers in Asia back in the day, he was voted Hong Kong Footballer of the Year during the 2003–04 season.

Career

Childhood and early career

Fan Chun Yip was born in Hong Kong into a 7-member family. He is the youngest son. As a child, his 2nd oldest brother, who was tragically murdered in 2006, invited him to a 7 a-side match. Because he was the smallest, he was picked to be the goalkeeper. He surprised everyone with his agility and goalkeeping prowess, and even dived to save shots from the opponent on the hard concrete "pitch".
After this, Fan Chun Yip would regularly play in goal, which built his interest in football.
In 1985, Fan Chun Yip joined the Hong Kong football promotional program, and was picked for the Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation training team. This was the first step towards his illustrious football career.
After being picked for the Hong Kong Schools Sports 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 was 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 was selected to represent the Hong Kong youth team.
Hong Kong Rangers is the First Division club Fan Chun Yip first joined. In a reserve League match, he injured his index finger and was forced to rest for a couple of months. After recovering from this injury, he was named in the Hong Kong Olympic squad.
After a year at Hong Kong Rangers, he was loaned to Happy Valley. Happy Valley gave him the chance to make his debut, against his parent club, Hong Kong Rangers. Fan Chun Yip gained a lot of first-team experience with Happy Valley, although a hand injury kept him sidelined for two months. After this, he was released by Hong Kong Rangers.
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 Hong Kong FA Cup.Unfortunately, it was the last title for the club, as the sponsor left the club, forcing them to disband. On the night of 8 August 2003, Fan Chun Yip became nationally famous. There was an exhibition match against Spanish giants Real Madrid in the Hong Kong National Stadium. In the first half, the home team was down 4–2 due to the poor performance by the China goalkeeper An Qi. Fan Chun Yip came on as a substitute in the second half. He made a string of excellent saves to keep Real Madrid at bay in the second half. After this 45-minutes, everyone in Hong Kong started to recognise and notice him.

Club career

On 17 November 2004, China played against Hong Kong in Guangzhou in a World Cup 2006 qualifying match. Fan Chun Yip performed numerous 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 chun yip 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 1 July 2007, a Reunification Cup was held in Hong Kong to celebrate the re-merging of Hong Kong with China anniversary. A China-Hong Kong XI 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 Jyujai.
Fan played for Shatin Sports Association in the Hong Kong First Division League. Before joining Shatin Sports Association, he played for Instant-Dict, Yee Hope, Hong Kong Rangers and Happy Valley. This is Fan's second spell with Happy Valley, having joined on loan some years previously. He made his international debut on 19 November 1998 against the Vietnam.
Fan 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.

International career

Performances

In 2005, Fan Chun Yip again impressed in 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 Chun Yip is now recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in Asia.
On 6 September 2006, Hong Kong were playing against Uzbekistan in the Asian Cup Qualification Group stages. Fan Chun Yip was the star player for the Hong Kong, he consistently made excellent saves, infuriating the Uzbekistan's forwards, to the extent that one of them spat at him, though the matter was resolved. At last, Fan Chun Yip was noted the Man of the Match.

Personal honours

Team of the Season 4 times,
Hong Kong Most Popular Player 2 times
Goalkeeper of the Tournament 2 times
Captain of the China-Hong Kong XI
Hong Kong Captain
40 caps for his Nation

International career

As of 14 January 2009.
#DateVenueOpponentResultCaptainCompetition
12 December 1998Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand0–51998 Asian Games
228 February 2003Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong10–02003 EAFF Championship Preliminary
32 March 2003Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong11–02003 EAFF Championship Preliminary
44 August 2003Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore1–4Friendly
56 November 2003Pakhtakor Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan1–42004 AFC Asian Cup qualification
68 November 2003Pakhtakor Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan0–02004 AFC Asian Cup qualification
710 November 2003Pakhtakor Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan2–12004 AFC Asian Cup qualification
84 December 2003National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan1–32003 EAFF Championship
97 December 2003Saitama Stadium, Saitama, Japan0–12003 EAFF Championship
1012 December 2003International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan1–32003 EAFF Championship
1118 February 2004Darulmakmur Stadium, Penang, Malaysia3–12006 FIFA World Cup qualification
1231 March 2004Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground, Hong Kong0–12006 FIFA World Cup qualification
139 June 2004Kazma SC Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait0–42006 FIFA World Cup qualification
148 September 2004Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong0–22006 FIFA World Cup qualification
1513 October 2004Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong2–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
1617 November 2004Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou, China0–72006 FIFA World Cup qualification
1730 November 2004Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore0–0 Friendly
189 February 2005Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong1–72005 Carlsberg Cup
1911 March 2005Chungshan Soccer Stadium, Taipei, Chinese Taipei5–02005 EAFF Championship Preliminary
2013 March 2005Chungshan Soccer Stadium, Taipei, Chinese Taipei0–22005 EAFF Championship Preliminary
2129 January 2006Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong0–32006 Carlsberg Cup
221 February 2006Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong0–42006 Carlsberg Cup
2315 February 2006Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong1–1Friendly
2418 February 2006Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong2–2Friendly
2522 February 2006Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong0–32007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
261 March 2006Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh1–02007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
2712 August 2006Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong1–2Friendly
2816 August 2006Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan2–22007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
296 September 2006Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong0–02007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
3011 October 2006Al-Gharafa Stadium, Doha, Qatar0–22007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
3115 November 2006Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong2–02007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
321 June 2007Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia0–3Friendly
3310 June 2007So Kon Po Recreation Ground, Hong Kong2–12007 Hong Kong–Macau Interport
3419 June 2007Estádio Campo Desportivo, Macau1–12008 EAFF Championship Preliminary
3521 June 2007Estádio Campo Desportivo, Macau15–12008 EAFF Championship Preliminary
3624 June 2007Estádio Campo Desportivo, Macau0–12008 EAFF Championship Preliminary
3728 October 2007Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong8–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3810 November 2007Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong0–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3918 November 2007Olympic Stadium, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan0–32010 FIFA World Cup qualification
4019 November 2008Macau UST Stadium, Macau9–1Friendly

Personal life

Fan Chun Yip married when he was 23 and has a son named Fan Ki Chi. He and his family now live in Kowloon Bay. He enjoys war game simulations with his teammates and friends during his leisure time. His most admired football players are Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and Italy's number one Gianluigi Buffon.
Fàn is a member of the Fàn family.

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.
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 an Olympic related TV programme on TVB in 2008.