Li Tie

For the director, see Li Tie (director).

Li Tie
李铁

Personal information
Full name	Li Tie
Date of birth	September 18, 1977 (1977-09-18)
Place of birth	Shenyang, Liaoning, China
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Liaoning Whowin
Number	33
Youth career
1992–1993	Liaoning Youth
1993–1998	Jianlibao Youth
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1998–2003	Liaoning	82	(0)
2002–2003	→ Everton (loan)	31	(0)
2003–2006	Everton	5	(0)
2006–2008	Sheffield United	0	(0)
2008	Chengdu Blades	24	(1)
2009–	Liaoning Whowin	22	(1)
National team‡
1995–	China	89	(5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:37, 22 Feb 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12:00, 22 Feb 2010 (UTC)

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Li.

Li Tie (simplified Chinese: 李铁; traditional Chinese: 李鐵; pinyin: Lǐ Tiě; born September 18, 1977 in Shenyang, Liaoning) is a professional Chinese international footballer who currently plays for Liaoning Whowin F.C. in the Chinese Super League. Starting his career playing for Liaoning F.C. Li would rise to prominence during the 1999 Chinese league season when Liaoning came runners-up within the league. This would soon see him become an integral member of the Chinese national football team where he was part of the squad that went to the 2002 FIFA World Cup and a move to English Premier League club Everton F.C. would soon follow. After a impressive debut season Li's career at the club would be blighted by a string of injurys before he moved to Sheffield United and then a return to China with Chengdu Blades and then a return back to his first club Liaoning.

Club career

Early career

Midfielder Li began his football career at the age of 15, joining Liaoning Youth System in 1992. The following year he was sent to Brazil for a five-year training programme sponsored by Jianlibao and became the captain of the China Jianlibao Youth Football Team.

The cream of his generation of Chinese football players, Li went to the Premier League in a deal brokered between sponsors Kejian and his new club, Everton.

Despite initial scepticism on Merseyside, his first season at Goodison Park was a surprising success. Manager David Moyes played him in 31 league games, mostly in the starting line-up, where his displays as a defensive midfielder helped the club clinch a 7th place finish.

Everton battled with his former club Liaoning to sign him on a permanent basis after the 2002–03 season and the deal was finally closed in August 2003 for an undisclosed fee with Li signing a three-year deal. It is thought that Everton paid between £0.5m to £1.5m for the midfielder, although the price was hugely offset by outside sponsorship.

Everton

Unfortunately, Li's 2003–04 season was marred by a sending-off against Arsenal in August 2003 and a series of injuries. The last injury, a broken leg picked up during international duty in February 2004, ruled him out for another 12 months. In January 2005, when he returned to action for the Everton reserve side against Bolton Wanderers, he lasted just 41 minutes, requiring his leg to be re-set.

In the summer of 2005, 18 months since his last game for the Everton first team, Li Tie featured for 90 minutes against FC Gamlitz of Austria in a pre-season friendly. He also played in friendlies against Motherwell, the Thai national team, Fenerbahçe and Udinese and looked like he was finally coming back to full fitness.

However, he never managed to break back into the first team despite playing regularly for the reserves and even earning another international call up for China. In March 2006, Li Tie underwent another operation to remove pieces of bone that had grown on his ankle during his time on the sidelines.

In May 2006, Li Tie was released by Everton and was linked with Sheffield United, who denied reports that a deal had been agreed to bring the player to Bramall Lane.

Sheffield United

In July 2006, Sheffield United announced the signing of Li Tie on a free transfer on a two year contract although he spent some time training with Chengdu Blades, a Chinese Football Association Jia League club owned by Sheffield United, while waiting for his visa clearance. He made his first-team debut in a pre-season friendly against local neighbours Rotherham United on 28 July.

Li Tie made his first competitive club start since January 2004 in a League Cup victory against Bury on 19 September 2006 but has still to make a league appearance.

On 12 October 2007, Li Tie was told he could leave Sheffield United on a free transfer. Blades' manager Bryan Robson said: "He's not in my plans and he is free to go wherever he wants on a free transfer.". Only two days later though, Sheffield United made a u-turn on the decision, stating that he would stay at the club until the end of the season before having his future evaluated.

Return to China

Despite reassurances to the contrary, Li Tie did indeed move in 2008 transferring to Sheffield United's Chinese sister club Chengdu Blades to reinforce the team after their promotion to the Chinese Super League and appeared in the opening game of the 2008 season against his former club Liaoning F.C. On 25 October 2008,he scored his first league goal in a 3-1 win to Shenzhen Shangqingyin

After spending one season with Chengdu Blades Li Tie returned to his hometown and original club to help them in their promotion push back to the top tier. It was to prove to be an immediate success when he guided them to win the second tier division and promotion back to the top flight after only one season.

He took part in picking the balls for the FA Cup 3rd Round draw on the 4th of Decemeber 2011. This was broadcast live on ITV1.

International career

In 1997, Li Tie was one of four players called up from the Jianlibao Youth Team for the final round of 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification by Qi Wusheng, the coach of the Chinese national team along with Li Jinyu, Sui Dongliang and Zhang Xiaorui.

Li was already a veteran of the national squad when China embarked on their World Cup debut in 2002.

Despite recovering from an injury, Li Tie returned to competitive football in June 2006 with substitute appearances for the Chinese national team against Switzerland and France.

Li Tie was called up by China for a friendly against Thailand on 10 August and the 2007 Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore on 16 August 2006.

He also was called up by Zhu Guanghu for China squad to play the Asian Nations Cup 2007 but had no appearance this time.

International goals

China goals listed first

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result	Competition	Scored
1	29 January 1997	Workers Stadium, Beijing	United States	2-1	Friendly match	1
2	20 April 1997	Workers Stadium, Beijing	Myanmar	5–0	Friendly match	1
3	14 January 2000	Workers Stadium, Beijing	New Zealand	1–0	Friendly match	1
4	23 January 2000	Thong Nhat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City	Philippines	8–0	2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification	1
5	26 January 2000	Thong Nhat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City	Guam	19–0	2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification	1
6	14 February 2001	Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok	Thailand	5–1	Friendly match	1

Career statistics

[1]

Club performance	League	Cup	League Cup	Continental	Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
China PR	League	FA Cup	CSL Cup	Asia	Total
1999	Liaoning		24	0
2000		29	1
2001		26	0
2002		12	0
England	League	FA Cup	League Cup	Europe	Total
2002-03	Everton	Premier League	29	0	1	0	3	0	0	0	33	0
2003-04	5	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	7	0
2004-05	0	0
2005-06	0	0
2006-07	Sheffield United	Premier League	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
2007-08	Championship	0	0
China PR	League	FA Cup	CSL Cup	Asia	Total
2008	Chengdu Blades	Super League	24	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	24	1
2009	Liaoning Hongyun	League One	22	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	22	1
2010	Super League	10	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	10	0
Total	China PR	137	3
England	34	0
Career total	171	3

Honours

Liaoning Hongyun

• China League One: 2009

External links

• Li Tie career stats at Soccerbase
• Soccerway profile
• Sohu.com profile