Sun Jihai

Sun Jihai, born on September thirtieth, nineteen seventy-seven, is a distinguished former professional footballer from China, renowned for his significant contributions to the sport, particularly in the English Premier League.

He made history as the first East Asian footballer to score in the Premier League, achieving this milestone with Manchester City in two thousand two. Additionally, he became the first Chinese player to find the net in the UEFA Cup, further solidifying his legacy in international football.

Sun was a vital member of the China national team that qualified for the two thousand two FIFA World Cup, marking a pivotal moment in Chinese football history.

After an illustrious career spanning over two decades, Sun founded Beijing Haiqiu Technology Company, also known as HQ Sports, in February two thousand sixteen while still playing for Beijing Renhe in the China League One division. He officially announced his retirement from professional football in December of the same year during a public event, where he also revealed the successful first round funding of his company, backed by prominent investors such as China Media Capital, Tencent, and Yuan Xun Fund.

Under his leadership, HQ Sports has grown to employ more than one hundred staff members, focusing on sports technology, media, and datatainment both in China and globally.