Yu Dabao

{{short description|Chinese footballer}} {{family name hatnote|Yu|lang=Chinese}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Yu Dabao <br> 于大宝 | image = Yu Dabao 2024-07-17.jpg | caption = Yu Dabao in July 2024 | fullname = Yu Dabao | height = {{convert|1.83|m|abbr=on}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|4|18|df=yes}} | birth_place = Qingdao, Shandong, China | currentclub = Beijing Guoan U17 (head coach) | position = Striker, centre-back | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 1997–2000 | youthyears2 = 2001 | youthyears3 = 2002–2003 | youthyears4 = 2006–2007 | youthclubs1 = Qingdao Etsong Hainiu | youthclubs2 = Guangdong Mingfeng | youthclubs3 = Qingdao Hailifeng | youthclubs4 = Benfica | years1 = 2004–2006 | clubs1 = Qingdao Hailifeng | caps1 = 28 | goals1 = 7 | years2 = 2007–2009 | clubs2 = Benfica | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2007 | clubs3 = → Aves (loan) | caps3 = 9 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2008 | clubs4 = → Olivais Moscavide (loan) | caps4 = 12 | goals4 = 2 | years5 = 2009 | clubs5 = → Mafra (loan) | caps5 = 12 | goals5 = 3 | years6 = 2010–2011 | clubs6 = Tianjin Teda | caps6 = 47 | goals6 = 12 | years7 = 2012–2014 | clubs7 = Dalian Aerbin | caps7 = 84 | goals7 = 17 | years8 = 2015–2024 | clubs8 = Beijing Guoan | caps8 = 192 | goals8 = 22 | totalcaps = 384 | totalgoals = 63 | nationalyears1 = 2004–2006 | nationalteam1 = China U17 | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | nationalyears2 = 2007–2008 | nationalteam2 = China U20 | nationalcaps2 = | nationalgoals2 = | nationalyears3 = 2010–2022 | nationalteam3 = China | nationalcaps3 = 65 | nationalgoals3 = 19 | managerclubs1 = Beijing Guoan U17 | manageryears1 = 2025– | managerclubs2 = China U22 (trainer) | manageryears2 = 2025– | club-update = | nationalteam-update = | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | {{CHN}} }} {{MedalSport | Men's football}} {{MedalCompetition | EAFF Championship}} {{MedalSilver | 2013 South Korea | Team}} {{MedalSilver | 2015 China | Team}} {{MedalBronze | 2017 Japan | Team}} {{MedalBronze | 2019 South Korea | Team}} {{MedalCompetition|AFC U-17 Championship}} {{MedalGold|2004 Japan|Team}} }} {{Infobox Chinese | s = {{linktext|于|大|宝}} | t = {{linktext|于|大|寶}} | order = st | p = Yú Dàbǎo | mi = {{IPAc-cmn|yu|2|-|d|a|4|-|b|ao|3|}} }} '''Yu Dabao''' ({{zh|s=于大宝|p=Yú Dàbǎo}}; born 18 April 1988) is a Chinese football coach and former professional footballer who played as a centre-back and striker, and is currently the head coach of the Beijing Guoan U17s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yu Dabao, Latest News & Player Profile {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en/player/yu-dabao/7grpk923pver7m6mtjxwzg91x|access-date=2021-04-28|website=www.goal.com}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-12-31 |title=官方：36岁于大宝退役 转任国安青训教练 |trans-title=Official: 36-Year Old Yu Dabao Retires, to Transition to Guoan Youth Coach |url=https://sports.sina.com.cn/china/j/2024-12-31/doc-ineckkxt1827399.shtml |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=Sina Sports}}</ref>

== Early life == Yu was born in a footballing family in Qingdao. Under the influence of his father and grandfather, he began playing football when he was 6. While he was a good student in school, he decided to become a professional footballer and began training full-time at 14.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=17 September 2019 |title=于大宝 {{!}} 我不是“福将” |url=http://www.trendsgroup.com.cn/2019/0917/225165.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241231182109/http://www.trendsgroup.com.cn/2019/0917/225165.shtml |archive-date=31 December 2024 |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=www.trendsgroup.com.cn}}</ref>

==Club career== Yu Dabao started his football career playing for second-tier side Qingdao Hailifeng and was soon called up to the Chinese under-17 national team. With the under-17 side, he played well during the 2004 AFC U-17 Championship and was quickly regarded as one of the best prospects in China due to his aerial and counterattacking abilities.<ref>[http://sports.sina.com.cn/star/yudabao/ 姓名：于大宝(Yu Dabao)] at sina.com.cn Retrieved 16 July 2012</ref> His breakout season was in 2006, where he scored 8 goals across 20 matches in all competitions. His first professional goal came on 16 March 2006, when Qingdao Hailifeng played against Chengdu Blades at home. His goal was what separated the two teams in a 1–0 win for Qingdao.<ref name=":0" />

This saw many clubs reportedly interested in the Yu including Ajax, Newcastle United, and Rangers; however, he joined Benfica on a three-year deal. In his debut match, only five days and three training sessions after he arrived in Portugal, Yu scored three goals and assisted a fourth in a reserve match against Portimonense.

Due to Yu's strong performances for Benfica's reserves, he was given the chance of training with the first team during preseason and was thus officially added to the first team. He made his debut for the club on 26 September 2007 in a 0–0 draw against Estrela da Amadora in the Taça da Liga, winning 5-4 on penalties. He was then soon loaned out to second-tier side C.D. Aves and then third-tier side Olivais Moscavide but was unable to save them from relegation as they suffered defeat in the last match of the season.<ref>[http://sports.sina.com.cn/g/2009-05-13/10174377081.shtml 本菲卡紧急召于大宝归队 中国前锋下赛季去向或有进展] at sports.sina.com.cn 13 May 2009 Retrieved 16 July 2012</ref> Speculation then grew that Yu was willing to leave Benfica after his loan period at C.D. Mafra ended. By 13 May 2009, Yu revealed in a telephone interview that he was about to leave to spend the offseason back in his homeland; however, he received a call from Benfica asking him to stay until further notice.

By February 2010, Yu's contract with Benfica had ended and he went on trial with Major League Soccer side FC Dallas; however, he was unable to receive a contract with them.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/soccer/post/_/id/7308/practice-observations-kick-start Practice Observations: Kick Start] at espn.go.com 2 March 2010 Retrieved 16 July 2012</ref> He then signed a contract with Chinese Super League side Tianjin Teda before the start of the 2010 season.<ref>[http://sports.163.com/10/0228/21/60L0CT0B00051C89.html 于大宝：加盟泰达因为想家 未来还将继续留洋梦] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003224215/http://sports.163.com/10/0228/21/60L0CT0B00051C89.html |date=3 October 2011 }} at sports.163.com 28 February 2010 Retrieved 16 July 2012</ref> His move turned out to be a big success and he went on to win the 2011 Chinese FA Cup, which saw him become one of the most sought-after players in China. On 27 February 2012, it was reported that Yu transferred to reigning league champions Guangzhou Evergrande for a reported fee of ¥15 million;<ref>[http://sports.163.com/12/0227/07/7R8JFR1D00051C89.html 于大宝正式加盟广州恒大] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229100105/http://sports.163.com/12/0227/07/7R8JFR1D00051C89.html |date=29 December 2014 }} at sports.163.com 27 February 2012 Retrieved 16 July 2012</ref> however, Guangzhou withdrew from the transfer talk in the afternoon that day and he transferred to the newly promoted side Dalian Aerbin the next day.

=== Beijing Guoan === On 27 December 2014, Yu transferred to fellow Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan after Dalian was relegated at the end of the 2014 season.<ref>[http://sports.qq.com/a/20141227/013019.htm 国安与于大宝签约三年] at sports.qq.com 27 December 2014 Retrieved 29 December 2014</ref> Yu's first goal for Guoan came on 17 March 2015, in an AFC Champions League match against Japanses club Urawa Red Diamonds. He scored Guoan's second goal to secure the team's 2–0 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 March 2015 |title=直击-于大宝完美弧线斩国安生涯首球 国安暂2-0 |url=https://sports.sohu.com/20150317/n409926535.shtml |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=sports.sohu.com}}</ref>

By the 2018 league season, coach Roger Schmidt would name Yu as the club's captain and convert him into a centre-back.<ref name=":0" /> This change in position would see Yu lead Beijing to go on to win the 2018 Chinese FA Cup.<ref name="2018 Chinese FA Cup">{{cite news|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/china/cfacup/2018-11-30/doc-ihmutuec5131375.shtml|title=足协杯-比埃拉建功张稀哲斩杀 国安客场2-2夺冠|publisher=sports.sina.com.cn|date=2018-11-30|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref>

On 31 December 2024, Yu's retirement from professional football was announced by Guoan. Following his retirement, he transitioned to coaching the youth ranks of the club, starting with the U17 squad.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-01-10 |title=于大宝出任北京国安U17梯队主教练 |url=https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20250110A07QQH00 |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=news.qq.com |language=zh-CN}}</ref> In his 10 seasons for Guoan, he played in 229 matches, scored 27 goals and assisted another 21.<ref name=":2" />

The club held a retirement ceremony for Yu at the Workers' Stadium on 29 March 2025, ahead of Guoan's first home game in the 2025 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sun |first=Haiguang |date=2025-03-30 |title=“我对中国足球的热爱永远都在”，北京国安为于大宝举行退役仪式 |url=https://finance.sina.com.cn/tech/roll/2025-03-30/doc-inerkumu9550516.shtml |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=finance.sina.com.cn}}</ref>

==International career== Yu was called up to the Chinese national team by then manager Gao Hongbo and made his debut on 18 December 2010 in a 3–0 win against Estonia. After making several further appearances, he scored his first goal for China on 22 February 2012 in a 2–0 unofficial friendly win against Kuwait. Yu did not have to wait long before he scored his first official goal when he scored on 29 February 2012 in a 3–1 win against Jordan during 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120318013858/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/asia/matches/round=257791/match=300172562/report.html China PR - Jordan] at fifa.com 29 February 2012 Retrieved 16 July 2012</ref>

Yu's most extraordinary goal occurred during the Third Round of AFC's 2018 World Cup Qualifying in a match against South Korea. Yu's header in the 34th minute and a stirring second-half performance by goalkeeper Zeng Cheng saw Marcello Lippi's side claim a 1–0 win over South Korea, which was only China's second win against South Korea in 32 games.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/football/report/_/gameId/464010 Yu Dabao header gives China 1-0 AFC WCQ win over South Korea] at espn.com 23 March 2017 Retrieved 12 January 2024</ref>

Yu announced his retirement from international competition in 2022 via social media.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 June 2022 |title=意外！于大宝宣布退出国家队，球迷：被董路“保护性接应”坑惨了 |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/www.sohu.com/a/562031668_100138059 |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=www.sohu.com}}</ref>

==Career statistics== ===Club=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>[http://www.sodasoccer.com/search/player/69/136648/E37F68ED93AAB1F6.shtml 于大宝] at sodasoccer Retrieved 2019-04-01 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401042704/http://www.sodasoccer.com/search/player/69/136648/E37F68ED93AAB1F6.shtml|date=2019-04-01}}</ref> |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|Qingdao Hailifeng |2004 China League One|2004 |rowspan="3"|China League One |8||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||8||0 |- |2005 China League One|2005 |2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||2||0 |- |2006 China League One|2006 |18||7||2||1||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||20||8 |- !colspan="2"|'''Total''' !28!!7!!2!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!30!!8 |- |Benfica |2007–08 |Primeira Liga |0||0||0||0||3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||3||0 |- |Aves (loan) |2007–08 |Liga de Honra |9||1||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||9||1 |- |Moscavide (loan) |2008–09 |rowspan="2"|Segunda Divisão |12||2||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||12||2 |- |Mafra (loan) |2009–10 |12||3||3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||15||3 |- |rowspan="3"|Tianjin Teda |2010 |rowspan="2"|Chinese Super League |22||6||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||22||6 |- |2011 |25||6||2||1||colspan="2"|-||6||1||colspan="2"|-||33||8 |- !colspan="2"|'''Total''' !47!!12!!2!!1!!0!!0!!6!!1!!0!!0!!55!!14 |- |rowspan="4"|Dalian Aerbin |2012 |rowspan="3"|Chinese Super League |27||6||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||27||6 |- |2013 |29||8||4||1||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||33||9 |- |2014 |28||3||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||28||3 |- !colspan="2"|'''Total''' !84!!17!!4!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!88!!18 |- | rowspan="11" |Beijing Guoan |2015 | rowspan="10" |Chinese Super League |29||5||2||0||colspan="2"|-||8||2||colspan="2"|-||39||7 |- |2016 |22||4||4||1||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||26||5 |- |2017 |12||1||1||1||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||13||2 |- |2018 |21||2||6||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||27||2 |- |2019 |25||4||1||0||colspan="2"|-||6||0||1{{efn|Appearance in Chinese FA Super Cup}}||0||33||4 |- |2020 |11||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||4||0||colspan="2"|-||15||0 |- |2021 |15||1||0||0||colspan="2"|-||0||0||colspan="2"|-||15||1 |- |2022 |25||3||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||25||3 |- |2023 |18 |0 |2 |0 | colspan="2" | - | colspan="2" | - | colspan="2" | - |20 |0 |- |2024 |14 |2 |2 |1 | colspan="2" | - | colspan="2" | - | colspan="2" | - |16 |3 |- ! colspan="2" |'''Total''' !192!!22!!18!!3!!0!!0!!18!!2!!1!!0!!229!!27 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !384!!63!!29!!6!!3!!0!!24!!3!!1!!0!!441!!73 |} {{notelist}}

===International=== '''Appearances and goals by national team and year'''<ref>[https://int.soccerway.com/players/yu-dabao/16582/matches Matches of Yu Dabao] at soccerway.com Retrieved 2020-12-31</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! colspan=3 | National team |- !Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |2010||1||0 |- |2011||4||0 |- |2012||4||1 |- |2013||14||4 |- |2014||1||0 |- |2015||11||9 |- |2016||3||0 |- |2017||7||3 |- |2018||6||0 |- |2019||9||2 |- |2020||0||0 |- |2021||3||0 |- |2022||2||0 |- !Total||65||19 |}

===International goals===

==== List of international goals scored by Yu Dabao ==== ''China score listed first, score column indicates score after each Yu Dabao goal'' {| class="wikitable" ! No<ref>[https://int.soccerway.com/players/yu-dabao/16582/matches Matches of Yu Dabao] at soccerway.com Retrieved 2020-12-31</ref> !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- | - || 22 February 2012 || Helong Stadium, Changsha, China || {{fb|KUW}} || align=center | '''2'''–0 || align=center | 2–0 || Friendly<SUP>1</SUP> |- | 1. || 29 February 2012 || Guangzhou University City Stadium, Guangzhou, China || {{fb|JOR}} || align=center | '''3'''–1 || align=center | 3–1 || 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |- | 2. || 22 March 2013 || Helong Stadium, Changsha, China || {{fb|IRQ}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center | 1–0 || 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification |- | 3. || 28 July 2013 || Olympic Stadium, Songpa-gu, South Korea || {{fb|AUS}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center | 4–3 || 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup |- | 4. || rowspan="2"| 6 September 2013 || rowspan="2"| Olympic Stadium, Tianjin, China || rowspan="2"| {{fb|SIN}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || rowspan="2" align=center | 6–1 || rowspan="2"| Friendly |- | 5. || align=center | '''2'''–1 |- | 6. || 27 March 2015 || Helong Stadium, Changsha, China || {{fb|HAI}} || align=center | '''2'''–2 || align=center | 2–2|| Friendly |- | 7. || 31 March 2015 || Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre, Nanjing, China || {{fb|TUN}} || align=center | '''1'''–1 || align=center | 1–1|| Friendly |- | 8. || rowspan=2| 16 June 2015 || rowspan=2| Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu, Bhutan || rowspan=2| {{fb|BHU}} || align=center | '''4'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center | 6–0 || rowspan=2| 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |- | 9. || align=center | '''6'''–0 |- | 10. || 5 August 2015 || Wuhan Sports Center Stadium, Wuhan, China || {{fb|PRK}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center | 2–0 || 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup |- | 11. || rowspan=2| 16 June 2015 || rowspan=2| Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Shenyang, China || rowspan=2| {{fb|MDV}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center | 3–0 || rowspan=2| 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |- | 12. || align=center | '''2'''–0 |- | 13. || rowspan=2| 12 November 2015 || rowspan=2| Helong Stadium, Changsha, China || rowspan=2| {{fb|BHU}} || align=center | '''3'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center | 12–0|| rowspan=2| 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |- | 14. || align=center | '''7'''–0 |- | 15. || 23 March 2017 || Helong Stadium, Changsha, China || {{fb|KOR}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center | 1–0|| 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |- | 16. || 9 December 2017 || Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo, Japan || {{fb|KOR}} || align=center | '''2'''–2 || align=center | 2–2|| 2017 EAFF E-1 Football Championship |- | 17. || 12 December 2017 || Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo, Japan || {{fb|JPN}} || align=center | '''1'''–2 || align=center | 1–2|| 2017 EAFF E-1 Football Championship |- | 18. || 7 January 2019 || Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates || {{fb|KGZ}} || align=center | '''2'''–1 || align=center | 2–1|| rowspan=2| 2019 AFC Asian Cup |- | 19. || 11 January 2019 || Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates || {{fb|PHI}} || align=center | '''3'''–0 || align=center | 3–0 |- |colspan=7 align=left|1:Non FIFA 'A' international match |}

==Honours== '''Tianjin Teda''' *Chinese FA Cup: 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2011-11-19/18005835265.shtml|title=足协杯-王新欣于大宝联手逆转 天津2-1胜山东夺冠|publisher=Sports.sina.com.cn|date=2011-11-19|access-date=2019-08-20|language=zh}}</ref>

'''Beijing Guoan''' *Chinese FA Cup: 2018<ref name="2018 Chinese FA Cup"/>

'''China U-17''' *AFC U-17 Championship: 2004

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://sports.sina.com.cn/star/yudabao/ Player profile] at Sina.com.cn {{in lang|zh}} * [http://csldata.sports.sohu.com/player.php?regnum=MA19892 Player profile] at Sohu.com {{in lang|zh}} * {{ForaDeJogo}} * {{Soccerway}} * {{NFT player}}

{{Beijing Guoan F.C. Squad}} {{China squad 2019 AFC Asian Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yu, Dabao}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Chinese men's footballers Category:Footballers from Qingdao Category:China men's youth international footballers Category:China men's international footballers Category:21st-century Chinese sportsmen Category:Qingdao Hainiu F.C. players Category:Qingdao Hailifeng F.C. players Category:S.L. Benfica footballers Category:C.D. Olivais e Moscavide players Category:C.D. Mafra players Category:C.D. Aves players Category:Chinese expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal Category:Chinese expatriate sportspeople in Portugal Category:Chinese Super League players Category:China League One players Category:Tianjin Jinmen Tiger F.C. players Category:Dalian Professional F.C. players Category:Beijing Guoan F.C. players Category:2019 AFC Asian Cup players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Beijing Guoan F.C. non-playing staff