Since stepping on the doorstep of Beijing Guoan, Hou Yongyong has become a star of the fans' buzz. He is confident in his skills and is also a bright pearl in the Norwegian soccer world. His good looks have won him many fans. His first steps in the Chinese Super League have been filled with excitement, and he is eager to make his mark in the league, with a view to getting a call-up to the national team. However, despite high expectations, Hou Yongyong failed to gain a firm foothold at Guoan, and was labeled "fragile" by fans. It wasn't until February 2023 that he parted ways with Guoan and returned to Norway, saying goodbye to the professional game and the national team.
Returning to Norway as if transformed, Hou joined Norwegian First Division club Langheim and quickly earned the No. 10 uniform that symbolizes the core of the game. After six months of bonding, he began to shine in the 2024 season. As the pivot of the team, he started consistently in the first 13 rounds of the league, with full blood in every game. Even more remarkable was the 10 goals and 4 assists he delivered to prove his prowess.
Hou Yongyong's performance really caught the eyes of the fans. However, in the face of such a performance, many fans are not shocked inside. Therefore, previous reports showed that he had given up his Chinese nationality and his performance had nothing to do with the national soccer team. However, recently, Hou Yongyong personally clarified that he has not withdrawn from Chinese nationality and is always a Chinese, and his dream is to put on the national team's robe. As a result, he became an overseas trained player for the Chinese men's soccer team and has now returned home.
What makes Hou Yongyong happy is that the domestic media broke the news that the national team head coach Ivankovic has been paying attention to his performance. Famous blogger "Gong permit" is bluntly said, Hou Yongyong is likely to debut in the next national team list. He wrote: "Hou Yongyong will be selected for the first time in the national team of Ivankovic, there is no doubt." Once selected, with his excellent skills and current form, Hou Yongyong is expected to become a key player in the 18-player squad of the national soccer team, filling the vacancy in the domestic squad.
