Gao Leilei
Encyclopedia
Gao Leilei (born July 15, 1980 in Beijing
) is a former Chinese
footballer.
in 1999. It was with Beijing Guoan that Gao first gained the public notice of Chinese football community when he scored an equalizer against Liaoning in the last round of 1999 Jia A. Gao spent eight years in total at Guoan, making 121 appearances for the team and scoring 11 goals.
in Spain
, but in December 2006 he was loaned to A-League
club New Zealand Knights for a short period. Gao made this debut in the A-League
for the Knights on December 3, 2006 against Newcastle Jets, and scored his first A-League
goal in his second match against Adelaide United
.
Following the dissolution of the Knights franchise, Gao moved to Finland and signed with team MyPa
, and in doing so became the first Chinese footballer to play in the Veikkausliiga
. Gao made his debut against FC Honka
as a substitute on April 22, 2007, and made his first start for against TPS Turku
on April 26, 2007.
On March 18, 2008, Gao signed a one-year contract with New Zealand club Wellington Phoenix, rejoining his former manager from the Knights, Ricki Herbert
. However, Gao's contract with the New Zealand club was terminated after a reported disagreement with the front office after just 8 games. Gao was linked with a move to A-League club Perth Glory after training with the club, but was not signed.
On July 3, 2009, Gao returned to Beijing and signed a short contract with Beijing Hongdeng
but, after just one month with the team, he transferred to Finland again signing with FC KooTeePee
. He made his debut for FC KooTeePee on August 16, 2009 against AC Oulu
.
of the American USSF Division 2 Professional League
.
He was released by the team on June 29, 2010, having never really settled in Minnesota, and having scored just one goal in ten games for the Stars.
.
Gao announced his retirement from professional football due to the prolonged problems with injuries on 6 March 2011.
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
) is a former Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
footballer.
China
Gao began his professional career with Wuhan in 1998, before moving to Beijing GuoanBeijing Guoan
Beijing Guoan Football Club Beijing Guoan Football Club Beijing Guoan Football Club (Simplified Chinese: 北京国安 is part of CITIC Group (China International Trust and Investment Corporation). Their current home stadium is Workers Stadium and the Fengtai stadium for less popular games. The current head...
in 1999. It was with Beijing Guoan that Gao first gained the public notice of Chinese football community when he scored an equalizer against Liaoning in the last round of 1999 Jia A. Gao spent eight years in total at Guoan, making 121 appearances for the team and scoring 11 goals.
New Zealand and Finland
Towards the end of the 2006 season, Gao expressed his wish to leave the team and seek other options. There were spectulations that Gao was going to a team in the Segunda DivisiónSegunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, but in December 2006 he was loaned to A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
club New Zealand Knights for a short period. Gao made this debut in the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
for the Knights on December 3, 2006 against Newcastle Jets, and scored his first A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
goal in his second match against Adelaide United
Adelaide United FC
Adelaide United Football Club is a professional football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It currently participates in the A-League as the sole team from the state of South Australia. Adelaide is one of the most successful clubs in the A-League. The club's home ground is...
.
Following the dissolution of the Knights franchise, Gao moved to Finland and signed with team MyPa
MyPa
Myllykosken Pallo –47 is a Finnish football club, based in the industrial town of Myllykoski, part of the city of Kouvola since January 2009. They currently play in the Finnish Premier Division...
, and in doing so became the first Chinese footballer to play in the Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name...
. Gao made his debut against FC Honka
FC Honka
FC Honka is a Finnish football club, based in Tapiola, Espoo. It was promoted into the Finnish premier division , for the first time in its history, at the end of the 2005 season. The club's manager is Mika Lehkosuo, and it plays its home matches at Tapiolan urheilupuisto...
as a substitute on April 22, 2007, and made his first start for against TPS Turku
Turun Palloseura
Turun Palloseura, TPS for short and nicknamed Tepsi, is a Finnish football club based in Turku. The club was founded in 1922. TPS currently play in the Veikkausliiga, the highest level of Finnish football. They play their home matches at the 9,372 seater Veritas Stadion, Turku.-History:FC TPS Turku...
on April 26, 2007.
On March 18, 2008, Gao signed a one-year contract with New Zealand club Wellington Phoenix, rejoining his former manager from the Knights, Ricki Herbert
Ricki Herbert
Ricki Lloyd Herbert, CNZM is a New Zealand former association football player who represented his country at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain...
. However, Gao's contract with the New Zealand club was terminated after a reported disagreement with the front office after just 8 games. Gao was linked with a move to A-League club Perth Glory after training with the club, but was not signed.
On July 3, 2009, Gao returned to Beijing and signed a short contract with Beijing Hongdeng
Beijing Hongdeng
Beijing Baxy is a Football Club based in Beijing, China, currently playing in the China League One.-History:Beijing Baxy F.C. was founded in 2004.The club failed to win promotion from China League Two in 2009, until they took over Beijing Hongdeng F.C...
but, after just one month with the team, he transferred to Finland again signing with FC KooTeePee
FC KooTeePee
FC KooTeePee is a Finnish football club, based in the town of Kotka. It currently plays in the Finnish First Division . The club's manager is Janne Hyppönen, and it plays its home matches at the Arto Tolsa Areena.- History :...
. He made his debut for FC KooTeePee on August 16, 2009 against AC Oulu
AC Oulu
AC Oulu is a Finnish football club, based in Oulu. The club's coach is Juha Malinen, and it plays its home matches at Raatin Stadion.-History :...
.
United States
On March 22, 2010 Gao landed in his fourth country when signed with NSC Minnesota StarsNSC Minnesota Stars
The NSC Minnesota Stars is an American professional soccer team based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
of the American USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League...
.
He was released by the team on June 29, 2010, having never really settled in Minnesota, and having scored just one goal in ten games for the Stars.
China
Gao returned to Beijing again and joined Beijing Baxy in July 2010. He scored his first goal on the first appearance, in a 3-0 home win against Anhui JiufangAnhui Jiufang
Anhui jiufang is a defunct Chinese football club from Hefei, Anhui. The club is owned by Anhui Jiarun Group with 15,000,000 RMB registered capital...
.
Gao announced his retirement from professional football due to the prolonged problems with injuries on 6 March 2011.