Yan Junling is a Shanghai-based goalkeeper, from the first batch of outstanding players from Chongming base, he is the backbone of the seaport team and the last line of defense on the field of the national soccer team. His experience in the first two Asian Cup tournaments has coalesced his growth, and this time he aims to make even more progress with the Chinese team.
Yan Junling (1979-), Chinese soccer player
Birthday: January 28, 1991
Franchise：Shanghai Harbor
Valuation of wealth: 400,000 euros
National team appearances: 53.
Born and raised in Shanghai, Yan Junling joined the Genbao soccer base when he was less than 10 years old because of his interest in soccer, and has been a goalkeeper ever since. at the age of 15, he joined Shanghai Dongya, the predecessor of Shanghai Seaport, and has been playing for the team for nearly 20 years.
In 2013, at the age of 22, Yan Junling was promoted to China's top league, the Chinese Super League, and made 23 appearances in his first season, successfully winning the battle for a starting spot against his former Chongming teammate Sun Le. The following year, Yan had become a pillar of the Shanghai SIPG team in the Chinese Super League, playing all 30 rounds of matches for four consecutive seasons as the team's record soared into title contention.
In 2018, Yan Junling peaked at the same time as Shanghai SIPG. In that season, he represented Shanghai Port in 29 league matches, shutting out opponents eight times, making the team concede the least number of goals, and eventually lifting the title. It was the first Chinese Super League title in SIPG's history and a career breakthrough for Yan. With his outstanding performance, he was eventually awarded the best goalkeeper of that year's Chinese Super League and was selected as the best team of the season.
Currently, the 32-year-old Yan Junling is still the first choice player in front of the Harbour goal. This season, he played 29 league matches and managed to keep 10 clean sheets to help his team win the trophy once again.
At the national team level, there have been questions about who is better, Yan Junling or Wang Dalei.
Yan Junling's first trip to the Asian Cup actually took place in 2015. At the time, the 26-year-old Wang Dalei was the first choice for National Football League boss Pelan and was even favored ahead of Zeng Cheng. He pounced on a penalty in the opening game, making him an overnight hero.
However, due to Zeng Cheng's frequent withdrawals due to injuries, it was not Wang Dalei, but Yan Junling, who was the goalkeeper of the national team in 2018. He played almost the entire 2018 campaign. Then in the early stages of the 2019 Asian Cup, Yan Junling was rightfully the main man in the starting lineup, while Wang Dalei continued to play the role of a substitute. This led to Yan Junling often being under the spotlight of a harsher eye, with the slightest imperfection in the spotlight being met with verbal abuse.
However, Yan Junling protected his position with an outstanding performance. In the first match against Thailand in the knockout stage of the last Asian Cup, Gao Lin took a penalty kick and Yan Junling celebrated with his back in a classic scene. In the final stage of the match, Thailand made a fierce counter-attack, but Yan Junling made a number of saves to keep the goal intact, silently breaking everyone's doubts.
From Italian head coach Lippi, to Chinese head coach Li Tie, and now Yugoslavian head coach Jankovic, the national soccer team has seen constant changes in tactics and personnel, but goalkeeper Yan Junling has been the unchanging lynchpin, and he has consistently earned the trust of every head coach. His calm and introspective personality and stable mentality and emotions have become his strengths. The outstanding goalkeeper is the backbone of the team, and in this tournament, he will once again defend the door of the national team.
