Cao Yang

In this Chinese name, the family name is Cao.

Cao Yang (simplified Chinese: 曹阳; traditional Chinese: 曹陽; pinyin: Cáo Yáng; born 15 December 1981 in Tianjin) is a Chinese former international football player who played as a versatile defender or midfielder.

Cao Yang
曹阳

Personal information
Date of birth	(1981-12-15) 15 December 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth	Tianjin, China
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Defender, Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2019	Tianjin TEDA	387	(53)
International career
1999-2000	China U19
2002	China U23
2002–2009	China	32	(2)
Managerial career
2020	Tianjin TEDA Reverse (assistant)
2021-	China U16 (assistant)
Medal record Representing  China Men's football AFC Youth Championship 2000 Iran Team East Asian Football Championship 2005 South Korea Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Cao Yang began his career graduating through the Tianjin Teda youth system eventually joining the senior team when he made his league debut on September 17, 2000 against Yunnan Hongta in a 2–1 defeat.^[1] The following season, he would further progress within the Tianjin Teda team by playing in ten league games for them.^[2] A versatile defender with good offensive and defensive ability who could also play in midfield as well as being physically tall, saw Cao firmly establish himself within as a permanent fixture within the Tianjin team by the end of the 2002 league season.^[1]

A regular for the club for several seasons he was named as the reserve captain behind Wang Xiao. In the 2008 Chinese Super League season Tianjin Teda where to have one of their most productive seasons when they finished the league fourth and were allowed the chance to play in the AFC Champions League. During their debut appearance in the AFC Champions League Cao Yang had the honor to be named as their captain against Kawasaki Frontale.^[3]

International career

Cao Yang began his international career playing for the Chinese U23 where he was named in the squad to play in the Football at the 2002 Asian Games and saw China knocked out in the Quarter-finals. His performance in the tournament was considered good enough for him to be promoted to the senior team by the Chinese caretaker coach Shen Xiangfu on December 7, 2002 in a friendly game against Syria in a 3–1 victory.^[4] With Zhu Guanghu as the national teams coach Cao's international career would start to see him become a regular within the team and he was included in the squad that won the 2005 East Asian Football Championship as well as also being in the squad that took part in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.

Career statistics

As of 11 November 2018^[5]

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Others		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
China PR			League		FA Cup		CSL Cup		Asia		Others		Total
2000	Tianjin TEDA	Chinese Jia-A League	1	0	0	0	-		-		-		1	0
2001			10	0	2	0	-		-		-		12	0
2002			20	2	0	0	-		-		-		20	2
2003			22	5	3	0	-		-		-		25	5
2004		Chinese Super League	21	1	0	0	5	3	-		-		26	4
2005			26	7	0	0	2	0	-		-		28	7
2006			27	7	4	0	-		-		-		31	7
2007			27	4	-		-		-		-		27	4
2008			29	7	-		-		-		-		29	7
2009			29	7	-		-		3	0	-		32	7
2010			12	1	-		-		-		-		12	1
2011			29	1	3	0	-		7	2	-		39	3
2012			20	1	1	0	-		5	0	1	0	27	1
2013			24	4	0	0	-		-		-		24	4
2014			13	1	0	0	-		-		-		13	1
2016			25	3	1	0	-		-		-		26	3
2017			16	2	1	0	-		-		-		17	2
2018			26	0	0	0	-		-		-		26	0
2019			10	1	3	0	-		-		-		13	1
Career total			387	54	18	0	7	3	15	2	1	0	428	59

Honours

Club

Tianjin TEDA

• Chinese FA Cup: 2011^[6]

Country

• East Asian Football Championship: 2005