{{short description|Chinese footballer (born 1967)}} {{family name hatnote|Liu|lang=Chinese}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name= Liu Ailing<br />刘爱玲 | fullname= Liu Ailing | image= | image_size= | caption= | birth_date={{birth date and age|1967|5|2|df=y}} | birth_place=Baotou, China | height=168cm<ref name="sr">{{cite web|title=Liu Ailing|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/li/liu-ailing-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418030307/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/li/liu-ailing-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 April 2020|publisher=Sports Reference|accessdate=23 November 2016}}</ref> | position= Midfielder | currentclub= | clubnumber= | youthclubs1= | youthyears1= | years1= 1985–1993 | clubs1=Beijing | caps1= | goals1= | years2= 1994–1997 | clubs2=Tasaki Perule FC | caps2= | goals2= | years3= 1998–2000 | clubs3=Beijing | caps3= | goals3= | years4= 2001–2002 | clubs4=Philadelphia Charge | caps4= 39 | goals4= 12 | nationalteam1= China | nationalyears1= 1987–2002 | nationalcaps1= | nationalgoals1= | medaltemplates= {{MedalSport|Women's football}} {{MedalCountry|{{fbw|CHN}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}} {{MedalSilver|1996 Atlanta|Team}} {{MedalCompetition|Asian Games}} {{MedalGold|1990 Beijing|Team}} {{MedalGold|1994 Hiroshima|Team}} {{MedalGold|1998 Bangkok|Team}} | club-update=22:45, 23 November 2016 (UTC) | nationalteam-update=22:45, 23 November 2016 (UTC) }}
'''Liu Ailing''' ({{zh|s=刘爱玲|t=劉愛玲|p=Liú Àilíng}}; born 2 May 1967) is a Chinese former footballer who played for the China national team at the 1991, 1995 and 1999 editions of the FIFA Women's World Cup. She won a silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and participated at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. A playmaking midfielder, she played for professional club football in Japan and the United States.
==Club career==
Born in Baotou, Inner Mongolia,<ref name="sr" /> Liu excelled in basketball and athletics but did not play football until she was 17 years old. Her parents were initially reluctant to let her play what they saw as a masculine sport.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fan Hong|first=J. A. Mangan|title=Soccer, Women, Sexual Liberation: Kicking Off a New Era|publisher=Frank Cass Publishers|year=2004|isbn=0-7146-8408-2|page=58|quote=Liu Ailing, another famous player, has stated that her parents once confronted her coach and told him that they did not want their daughter, 'such a lovely girl to play a boy's sport'.}}</ref>
In 1994, Liu joined Japanese second-tier club Tasaki Perule FC. She won promotion in her first season and remained with the club until 1997.<ref>{{cite news|title=Players featured on FIFA's 100 Best Goals who played in Japan|url=http://fullbloomfootball.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/players-featured-on-fifas-100-best.html|accessdate=23 November 2016|publisher=Full Bloom: A Guide to Women's Football in Japan|date=21 April 2015}}</ref>
At the 2000 WUSA Draft, Liu was selected by Philadelphia Charge in the first round, second overall behind compatriot Sun Wen.<ref>{{cite news|title=China's Sun Wen Selected by Atlanta with Top Pick|url=http://en.people.cn/english/200012/11/eng20001211_57453.html|accessdate=23 November 2016|publisher=People's Daily|date=11 December 2000}}</ref> In the United States, Liu experienced a culture shock; she bought only raw fruit and vegetables from the supermarket as in China she had been in regimented training camps for so long that she had never learned to cook.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jensen|first1=Mike|title=For soccer's Liu Ailing, a new country means new rules and new league|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-73199180.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121002617/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-73199180.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 November 2018|accessdate=26 November 2016|publisher=Knight Ridder|date=13 April 2001}}</ref> In the 2001 WUSA season, as a 34-year-old veteran, Liu was a success and led the team on goals (10) and points (22). She was the first woman to win WUSA's Player of the Week in two consecutive weeks, and the first woman to win it three times. Coach Mark Krikorian said of Liu: "She has been one of the greatest center midfielders in the world".<ref>{{cite news|title=Charge's Liu showing moxie down the stretch|url=http://www.wusa.com/players_coaches/players/liu_ailing/273621.html|accessdate=26 November 2016|publisher=WUSA|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20021227011904/http://www.wusa.com/players_coaches/players/liu_ailing/273621.html|archivedate=27 December 2002}}</ref> In 2002, Liu was less effective, contributing two goals and two assists for six points in her 20 regular season appearances (11 starts). She retired at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Narducci|first1=Marc|title=Charge's Liu Ailing planning to retire|url=http://articles.philly.com/2002-07-03/sports/25356712_1_liu-china-women-s-united-soccer-association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919203242/http://articles.philly.com/2002-07-03/sports/25356712_1_liu-china-women-s-united-soccer-association|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 September 2015|accessdate=26 November 2016|publisher=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=3 July 2002}}</ref>
==International career==
At the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup, Liu played the full 80 minutes in all four of China's games. The hosts reached the quarter-finals before losing 1–0 to Sweden.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/technicaldevp/50/08/19/wwc_91_tr_part2_260.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227003624/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/technicaldevp/50/08/19/wwc%5f91%5ftr%5fpart2%5f260.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 December 2011 |title=FIFA Women's World Cup China '91 - Technical Report & Statistics |publisher= FIFA|accessdate=23 November 2016|page=66}}</ref> In the first ever FIFA Women's World Cup match, Liu scored twice in China's 4–0 win over eventual finalists Norway on 16 November 1991.
At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, she won the silver medal with the Chinese team when she played all five matches and scored one goal.
At the 1997 AFC Women's Championship, Liu scored four goals in China's 10–0 semi-final win over Taiwan and two goals in the 2–0 final win over obdurate North Korea. She was named tournament MVP.<ref>{{cite news|title=LIU Ailing |url=http://www.wwc99.fifa.com/english/individuals/player171165.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000416061851/http://wwc99.fifa.com/english/individuals/player171165.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 April 2000 |accessdate=23 November 2016 |publisher=FIFA }}</ref> Liu was named in the 16-player All-Star team at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.<ref>{{cite news|title=WWC99: Hamm, Sissi, Sun among 16 players selected to Mastercard All-Star Team|url=https://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/news/y=1999/m=7/news=wwc99-hamm-sissi-sun-among-players-selected-mastercard-all-star-team-70977.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702171934/http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/news/y=1999/m=7/news=wwc99-hamm-sissi-sun-among-players-selected-mastercard-all-star-team-70977.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 July 2015|accessdate=26 November 2016|publisher=FIFA|date=8 July 1999}}</ref> She scored the winning goal in the 2–1 first round win over Sweden and two more in the 5–0 semi-final rout of defending champions Norway, securing China's place in the final, where they lost a controversial penalty shootout to the United States.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Farley|first1=Maggie|title=Chinese upset by 'tainted' World Cup loss|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23142921.html|accessdate=26 November 2016|publisher=The Buffalo News|date=15 July 1999}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
In 2000, she was a member of the Chinese team which finished fifth in the Olympic women's tournament. She played all three matches.
In 2003, Liu took a role as deputy secretary general of the Beijing Football Association.<ref>{{cite news|title=刘爱玲要过安稳日子 正式出任北京足协副秘书长|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/c/2003-04-08/1106421165.shtml|accessdate=26 November 2016|publisher=Sina Corp|date=8 April 2003|language=Chinese}}</ref> Following the playing retirement of Liu and influential contemporaries like Sun Wen and Zhao Lihong, the Chinese national team went into sharp decline, culminating in an 8–0 defeat by Germany at the 2004 Athens Olympics.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rusty Steel Roses leave the past behind|url=https://www.fifa.com/womens-football/news/y=2004/m=9/news=rusty-steel-roses-leave-the-past-behind-94100.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127084825/http://www.fifa.com/womens-football/news/y=2004/m=9/news=rusty-steel-roses-leave-the-past-behind-94100.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 November 2016|accessdate=26 November 2016|publisher=FIFA|date=8 September 2004}}</ref> In June 2007, Liu was running the only girls' football school in Beijing, when it closed through lack of interest.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fewer and fewer Chinese girls play football|url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/news/230727.htm|accessdate=26 November 2016|publisher=Xinhua News Agency|date=3 November 2007}}</ref>
==International goals== {| class="wikitable" |- ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- | 1. || 21 December 1989 || rowspan=2| Kowloon, Hong Kong || {{fbw|PRK}} || align=center|'''4'''–1 || align=center| 4–1 || rowspan=2| 1989 AFC Women's Championship |- | 2. || 26 December 1989 || {{fbw|HKG}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || align=center| 7–0 |- | 3. || rowspan=2| 16 November 1991 || rowspan=2| Guangzhou, China || rowspan=2| {{fbw|NOR}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 4–0 || rowspan=4| 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup |- | 4. || align=center|'''3'''–0 |- | 5. || rowspan=2| 21 November 1991 || rowspan=2| Foshan, China || rowspan=2| {{fbw|NZL}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 4–1 |- | 6. || align=center|'''4'''–0 |- | 7. || 5 December 1993 || rowspan=6| Kuching, Malaysia || {{fbw|KOR}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || align=center| 6–0 || rowspan=6| 1993 AFC Women's Championship |- | 8. || 7 December 1993 || {{fbw|MAS}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || align=center| 7–0 |- | 9. || 10 December 1993 || {{fbw|JPN}} || align=center|'''1'''–1 || align=center| 1–1 |- | 10. || rowspan=3| 12 December 1993 || rowspan=3| {{fbw|PRK}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=3 align=center| 3–0 |- | 11. || align=center|'''2'''–0 |- | 12. || align=center|'''3'''–0 |- | 13. || 8 June 1995 || Västerås, Sweden || {{fbw|AUS}} || align=center|'''4'''–2 || align=center| 4–2 || 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup |- | 14. || 26 September 1995 || Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia || {{fbw|HKG}} || align=center|'''11'''–0 || align=center| 12–0 || 1995 AFC Women's Championship |- | 15. || 23 July 1996 || Miami, United States || {{fbw|DEN}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 5–1 || 1996 Summer Olympics |- | 16. || rowspan=2| 5 December 1997 || rowspan=8| Guangdong, China || rowspan=2| {{fbw|PRK}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 3–1 || rowspan=8| 1997 AFC Women's Championship |- | 17. || align=center|'''3'''–1 |- | 18. || rowspan=4| 12 December 1997 || rowspan=4| {{fbw|TPE}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || rowspan=4 align=center| 10–0 |- | 19. || align=center|'''5'''–0 |- | 20. || align=center|'''6'''–0 |- | 21. || align=center|'''10'''–0 |- | 22. || rowspan=2| 14 December 1997 || rowspan=2| {{fbw|PRK}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 2–0 |- | 23. || align=center|'''2'''–0 |- | 24. || 19 June 1999 || San Jose, United States || {{fbw|SWE}} || align=center|'''2'''–1 || align=center| 2–1 || rowspan=3| 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup |- | 25. || rowspan=2| 4 July 1999 || rowspan=2| Foxborough, United States || rowspan=2| {{fbw|NOR}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 5–0 |- | 26. || align=center|'''3'''–0 |- | 27. || rowspan=2| 9 November 1999 || rowspan=3| Bacolod, Philippines || rowspan=2| {{fbw|GUM}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 15–0 || rowspan=3| 1999 AFC Women's Championship |- | 28. || align=center|'''6'''–0 |- | 29. || 19 November 1999 || {{fbw|PRK}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 3–0 |- |}
==Honors==
===International=== ;China<ref>{{cite web|title=辉煌战绩|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/star/liu_ailing/|publisher=Sina Corp|accessdate=27 November 2016|language=Chinese}}</ref> *World Cup Silver Medal: 1999 *Olympic Silver Medal: 1996 *AFC Women's Championship: 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999 *Football at the Asian Games: 1990, 1994, 1998
===Individual=== *Asian Player of the Month: December 1997<ref>{{cite web |title=Awards for Saudi and China |url=http://www.asian-football.com/afc/pub/Feb98/frame.r3.html |website=Asian Football Confederation |date=14 May 1998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980514221318/http://www.asian-football.com/afc/pub/Feb98/frame.r3.html |archive-date=14 May 1998 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{sports links}} * {{FIFA player|60}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20021217025737/http://www.wusa.com/players_coaches/players/liu_ailing/ Profile] at WUSA
{{Navboxes |title= China squads |bg= #db000d |fg= #fbea0e |list1= {{China Squad 1991 Women's World Cup}} {{China Squad 1995 Women's World Cup}} {{China Women's squad 1996 Olympic Atlanta}} {{China Squad 1999 Women's World Cup}} {{China Women's squad 2000 Olympic Athens}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liu, Ailing}} Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Chinese women's footballers Category:Chinese expatriate women's footballers Category:China women's international footballers Category:Footballers at the 1996 Summer Olympics Category:Footballers at the 2000 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic footballers for China Category:Olympic silver medalists for China Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics Category:People from Baotou Category:Olympic medalists in football Category:1991 FIFA Women's World Cup players Category:1995 FIFA Women's World Cup players Category:1999 FIFA Women's World Cup players Category:Footballers from Inner Mongolia Category:Footballers at the 1990 Asian Games Category:Footballers at the 1994 Asian Games Category:Footballers at the 1998 Asian Games Category:Nadeshiko League players Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Japan Category:Women's United Soccer Association players Category:Philadelphia Charge players Category:Women's association football midfielders Category:Expatriate women's soccer players in the United States Category:Chinese expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:Chinese expatriate sportspeople in Japan Category:Tasaki Perule FC players Category:Beijing W.F.C. players Category:Asian Games gold medalists for China Category:Asian Games footballers for China Category:Medalists at the 1990 Asian Games Category:Medalists at the 1994 Asian Games Category:Medalists at the 1998 Asian Games Category:FIFA Women's Century Club Category:Asian Games gold medalists in football