Player Profile : Xu Yunlong

We're starting a new series here giving foreign fans an introduction to the player's Guoan fields week in, week out. The first choice is an incredibly easy one, as Xu Yunlong isn't only this season's team captain, but has been an integral part of the squad since he first came up in 1998.

Xu Yunlong - 徐云龙

The vitals:

age - 30

position - center back

number - 13

height - 181 cm

years with Guoan - 11

appearances - 153

goals - 22

Born and bred in Beijing, Xu Yunlong is Guoan through and through. He's an extremely versatile player who has played virtually every position on the field (except keeper), but is most comfortable as a defender, typically at center back. He started out with the youth team at the age of 14 and has been a part of Guoan ever since. His "unlucky" 13 has been one of the few consistents for Guoan over the past 10 years.

While he's never been known as an incredibly speedy player, he is creative and versatile (as mentioned above). Over the past few seasons, he's developed into an absolute shut down central back, but he also is skilled enough to go up and get involved in the offense, especially on corners and free kicks. He's already demonstrated his offensive prowess with his goal earlier this season.

Xu's regularly featured in the national team, since being brought up by Bora in 2000, and used to be part of Beijing's 3 pronged attack on the national team and Guoan, which included Yang Chen and Yang Pu.

Like Stevie Gerrard for Liverpool and Paolo Maldini at Milan, Xu is the heart of this Guoan team. He's been extremely loyal, even when bigger or better offers have come his way, he's always stayed in Beijing. Even in his younger days, Xu's fierce play and enthusiasm made him an instant leader, but now that he's a veteran, he's able to take an even greater role as mentor for younger players like Huang Bowen and Yan Xiangchuang as they develop.

Of all the Guoan players, Xu is truly a "Gongti Legend".