Cao Yunding

In this Chinese name, the family name is Cao.

Cao Yunding (Chinese: 曹赟定; pinyin: Cáo Yūndìng; born 22 November 1989) is a Chinese former footballer who played as a right-footed left winger.

Cao Yunding
曹赟定

Personal information
Full name	Cao Yunding
Date of birth	(1989-11-22) 22 November 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth	Shanghai, China
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Left winger
Youth career
2000–2005	Genbao Football Academy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2010	Shanghai East Asia	60	(7)
2011–2024	Shanghai Shenhua	302	(33)
International career‡
2007–2008	China U-20
2009–2010	China U-23
2016–2019	China	5	(0)
Medal record Representing  China Men's football EAFF Championship 2019 South Korea Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 31 January 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 31 December 2019

Cao Yunding
Chinese	曹赟定
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Cáo Yūndìng IPA [tsʰǎʊ ýn tîŋ]

Club career

Cao Yunding started his football career when he joined the Genbao Football Academy in 2000 and was promoted to Shanghai East Asia's first team during the 2006 season. He scored his first goal for the club on 20 August 2006 in a 4-1 win against Wuhan Yaqi.^[1] Cao established himself as a regular in the team as the club won third tier title and promotion to the second tier during the 2007 season.^[2] In the 2009 season, the club became genuine promotion candidates and Cao played twenty-two games and scored two goals as Shanghai East Asia finished fourth and narrowly missed out on promotion.^[3] Cao made another twenty appearances and scored two goals during the 2010 season as he helped guide the club to another fourth-place finish.^[4]

On 12 February 2011, Cao transferred to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.^[5] He made his debut for the club on 2 March 2011 in a 0-0 draw against Kashima Antlers in the 2011 AFC Champions League.^[6] He scored his first goal for the club on 21 September 2011 in a 1-0 win against Yanbian Baekdu Tigers in the 2011 Chinese FA Cup.^[7] He then scored his first league goal for the club on 24 September 2011 in a 3-2 loss against Jiangsu Sainty.^[8] He extended his contract with the club for five more years on 19 November 2017.^[9]

On 31 December 2024, Cao announced his retirement from professional football through the social media. ^[10]

International career

Cao made his debut for the Chinese national team on 15 November 2016 in a 0-0 draw against Qatar.

Career statistics

Club statistics

As of 31 January 2023.^[11]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Shanghai SIPG	2006	China League Two			-		-		-
	2007				-		-		-
	2008	China League One	16	3	-		-		-		16	3
	2009		22	2	-		-		-		22	2
	2010		22	2	-		-		-		22	2
	Total		60	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	60	7
Shanghai Shenhua	2011	Chinese Super League	27	1	0	0	5	0	-		32	1
	2012		25	5	2	0	-		-		27	5
	2013		23	0	1	1	-		-		24	1
	2014		28	1	5	0	-		-		33	1
	2015		20	2	5	1	-		-		25	3
	2016		29	4	5	1	-		-		34	5
	2017		26	5	5	1	1	0	-		32	6
	2018		19	3	0	0	2	0	0[a]	0	21	3
	2019		25	2	6	1	-		-		31	3
	2020		17	1	1	0	1	0	-		19	1
	2021		15	3	3	0	-		-		18	3
	2022		19	3	0	0	-		-		19	3
	Total		273	30	33	5	9	0	0	0	315	35
Career total			333	37	33	5	9	0	0	0	375	42

1. Appearances in Chinese FA Super Cup

International statistics

National team
Year	Apps	Goals
2016	1	0
2017	1	0
2018	0	0
2019	3	0
Total	5	0

Honours

Shanghai East Asia

• China League Two: 2007

Shanghai Shenhua

• Chinese FA Cup: 2017, 2019,^[12] 2023
• Chinese FA Super Cup: 2024

Individual

• Chinese FA Cup Most Valuable Player: 2017