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17:31, 30-Aug-2017
Former Chinese national squad goalkeeper Zhang Junxiu dies
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Zhang Junxiu, one of the founding members of Chinese football and former goalkeeper of the national team, died Wednesday at the age of 83, the Beijing Evening News has reported.
Zhang's soccer skills were first noticed when he took part in a national football match as a member of the Tianjin youth team in 1953.
During an international football match in Warsaw, Poland the same year, he was named "Best Goalkeeper" and earned the nickname "Unbreakable Great Wall".
Zhang Junxiu as a young man. /Photo via Weibo
Zhang Junxiu as a young man. /Photo via Weibo
Zhang was the first Chinese player to master diving saves, and was also the first sportsperson since 1949 to have his image printed on stamps.
He proved to be an inspirational figure, encouraging countless Chinese to follow their dreams of playing professional football.
After his retirement in 1965, Zhang became coach of the Chinese national team and was later elected vice president of the Chinese Football Association in 1978.
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