With the Chinese Super League increasingly becoming the plaything of billionaires, many of the world’s leading soccer stars have been tempted to ply their trade in China. In the last twelve months alone, top stars including Jackson Martinez, Ramires, Oscar and Alex Teixeira have all moved to China for a combined total of over 100 million US dollars.

But what of the brave souls who dared to venture eastward in simpler times? We take a look at some of the most notable players to have beaten a path to China before its league became awash with untold riches.

Colombian hot-shoe Ricard shot to prominence in the English Premier League, where he managed a very respectable 27 league goals for Middlesbrough between 1998 and 2000, and represented his country at the 1998 World Cup. Despite lingering doubts over his temperament, Shanghai Shenhua saw fit to offer Ricard a contract in 2007. The Colombian found some semblance of form and stability in the Pearl City with 14 strikes across two seasons.

Also a striker, Ouédec was one of the French league’s most feared attackers during the early 90’s, becoming its top scorer in 1993/94. After the Frenchman’s form deserted him, he upped sticks for a fresh start in China in 2002, where he found his goal-scoring touch once more, netting a strike every other game for Dalian Shide. Ouédec must have enjoyed China’s sea air, as he then made the move down the coastline to Shandong Luneng, scoring another nine goals before hanging up his boots in 2004.

Target man Jancker won a hatful of league titles with German giants Bayern Munich, and played a key role in the Bavarians’ UEFA Champions League triumph in 2001. The rangy striker also banged in 10 goals across 33 appearances for the German national team, and featured at the 2002 World Cup as Germany finished runners-up. Shanghai Shenhua must therefore have been delighted at securing a player of such international renown in the summer of 2006. Unfortunately, Jancker’s time in China was not a happy one, with the German appearing just seven times without scoring. 

Despite a reputation as a fearsome hard-hitter who often tackled rashly, Danish midfielder Tofting was also a handy footballer, making over 100 appearances in Germany’s top division, and also featuring for Denmark at two World Cups. After a brief spell with Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League, Tofting brought his combative stylings to China, signing a short-term deal with Tianjin Teda, although his spell at the northeastern port city only lasted six months.

Arguably the most naturally talented English player of his generation, Gazza made the shock move to Chinese League One outfit Gansu Tianma in February 2003, where in addition to playing, he also featured on the club’s coaching staff. He made a bright start to life in China’s northwest, scoring on his debut against Hailifeng of Qingdao. Gascoigne left China to attend rehab in the US in June 2003 for a reoccurring alcohol problem and did not return to Gansu. Though his time in China was all too fleeting, the sight of one of the world’s gifted midfielders turning out for a second-tier outfit in a little-known industrial city on the fringes of the desert must surely be one of global football’s great stories.