Top 10 Veteran Players Born in the 1980s in the 2025 Chinese Super League: Led by Wu Xi and Wang Shenchao, Still Key Figures Despite Their Age

Written by Han Bing This season, the Chinese Super League is still largely driven by foreign stars, yet two key groups cannot be overlooked. Alongside the rising U21 players represented by Wang Yudong, 29 veteran domestic players born in the 1980s, including Wu Xi, Wang Dalei, Wang Shenchao, and Yu Hanchao, also hold vital and sometimes decisive positions. These “36+ young veterans” rely on their strong willpower to not only continue contributing but often step up at critical moments to save their teams.

Among them, Yu Hanchao has become a sensational “injury-time hero” this season, Wu Xi remains the soul of Shenhua, relegated Changchun Yatai still has Tan Long nominated for the CSL Player of the Year, and the veteran goalkeeper Hou Sen of Guoan, called up in times of crisis, is a candidate for Best Goalkeeper. Wu Xi’s performance for Shenhua is worthy of a spot in the season’s best XI, alongside other diligent veterans like Wang Shenchao, Li Tixiang, Zheng Zheng, as well as experienced players still contributing such as Chi Zhongguo, Zhang Linpeng, Ren Hang, and Lü Wenjun.

Based on the season performance of these 29 veterans, our report selects the “Top 10 Chinese Super League Veterans Born in the 1980s” this season. The aim is to highlight these experienced players who, while nearing the end of their careers, continue to perform on par or even better than younger players, serving as role models for the next generation, alongside the usual focus on champions, golden boot winners, and rising stars.

Wu Xi is undoubtedly the flagship veteran of the “CSL 80s generation” this season. As the captain of Shanghai Shenhua, Wu Xi appeared 28 times this season, covering almost every midfield position tactically. After scoring 7 goals and 3 assists last season, he was named the best player by coach Slutsky. This season, he proved even stronger with 9 goals and 5 assists. Amid Shenhua’s injury woes and offensive inefficiency, captain Wu Xi took full responsibility to support the attack without hesitation.

Among Wu Xi’s 9 goals, one was a goal that sparked a comeback when trailing, two were equalizers, three were crucial go-ahead goals against adversity, and three sealed the victory—almost every goal was vital. Of his 5 assists, one helped overturn a deficit, two secured a lead, and two were injury-time assists that clinched wins, including a 7-minute injury-time assist to Yu Hanchao against Guoan. He also contributed indirectly, such as hitting the post for Andre to score first against Hainiu and earning a penalty in the 10th minute of injury time during a crucial title race match against Dalian Yingbo, helping Shenhua earn a valuable point.

Defensively, Wu Xi also gave his all: 48 tackles this season placed him among the top domestic players; 32 fouls with an average of 1.14 fouls per game resulted in only one yellow card. This year, Wu Xi achieved three career milestones: surpassing 50 goals in the CSL, exceeding 400 appearances in top-level leagues, making him the seventh Chinese player to reach this feat. He even recorded a hat-trick of assists in the Shanghai Derby during the FA Cup. Despite narrowly missing the championship for two consecutive years, Wu Xi chose to stay with Shenhua, using his experience, leadership, and steady performance in crucial moments to help the team pursue the title.

The ageless legends of Shanghai’s two giants include Shenhua’s veteran captain Wu Xi and Shanghai Port’s captain Wang Shenchao. A product of the Genbao Academy, Wang Shenchao has witnessed the evolution from East Asia to Shanghai SIPG and now Shanghai Port, truly the team’s soul. Also 36 years old, playing as a right-back, Wang Shenchao temporarily lost his starting spot early this season and was even shifted to left-back. However, he remained defensively responsible and scored two of his four CSL goals this season while playing left-back. He returned to right-back after younger Wang Zhen’ao suffered a serious injury and Ming Tian struggled to adapt, continuing to shine.

During the summer, Wang Shenchao provided assists in three consecutive matches, notably scoring a powerful shot against Zhejiang in the penultimate round, securing victory and strengthening Port’s championship defense. This season, Wang Shenchao appeared 28 times, contributing 4 goals and 3 assists as a fullback. Three assists helped Port break the deadlock and take the lead, one came after being equalized to regain the lead, and one sealed the win. Collectively, he secured 9 league points for Shanghai Port, a key figure in their successful title defense.

As the club’s second most capped player in history with 435 appearances, just behind Yan Junling’s 441, Wang Shenchao is not only the captain but also the team’s spiritual leader and a “part-time” tactical assistant. Coach Muscat calls him a “breathing tactical board” because he fully understands the coach’s strategies and even edits videos for tactical analysis. He is an indispensable tactical mentor in the locker room, playing a vital role in guiding the team through generational changes. Like Wu Xi’s loyalty to Shenhua, Wang Shenchao plans to continue his ageless legend at Shanghai Port next year.

Among the “CSL 80s veterans” this season, Yu Hanchao’s winning goals, especially his injury-time winners, are truly iconic. At 38 years old, Yu Hanchao maintains professional physical fitness. This season, fans remember him mostly for his dramatic impact off the bench. For Shenhua, he is a “savior” figure.

At the start of the year’s Super Cup, Yu Hanchao played 8 minutes and scored an equalizer in the 4th minute of injury time, helping Shenhua score two late goals to complete a dramatic comeback and win the trophy. This marked the beginning of his 2025 season as the “king of last-minute goals.” Although he only played 439 minutes in the CSL, 5 of his 6 goals came as a substitute, quickly changing games: in the local derby against Shanghai Port, he came on and scored within 1 minute; against Zhejiang, he equalized 2 minutes after entering; against Guoan, he scored a 7-minute injury-time winner; against Hainiu, he scored a decisive goal in the 5th minute of injury time; against Yukun, he scored off the bench to spark a comeback and secure 1 point; against West Coast, starting in the second half, he scored the winning goal.

Without Yu Hanchao’s substitute goals, Shenhua would have struggled to win the Super Cup, lost at least 6 points, and likely exited the title race early, with no hope remaining by the final round. In matches where Yu Hanchao did not come off the bench, Shenhua lost away to Shenzhen and drew at home with Dalian, losing 4 points that later proved decisive for the championship. Yu Hanchao’s relentless extra training and indomitable spirit at age 38 make many CSL peers envious. His dedication to professionalism is a model for current Chinese players.

Although Changchun Yatai endured relegation after three tough seasons, 37-year-old veteran striker Tan Long still made the CSL Player of the Year shortlist, proving his importance and performance this season. Tan Long has served Yatai for nine seasons, experiencing the ups and downs of relegation and promotion. Despite Yatai’s struggles, as captain, Tan Long gave his all, scoring 5 goals in the first 7 matches. Unfortunately, the team’s deep issues meant his goals only earned 4 points.

In the official CSL June Player of the Month voting, among 8 candidates, only Tan Long came from a relegation-threatened team. He helped Yatai achieve two wins and three losses in five matches with 4 goals, outperforming contenders like Teixeira, Cresan, and Kylas, earning the monthly award as captain and striker of the league’s bottom club. Sadly, his form declined after July, scoring just once in 12 matches. Despite a coaching change and consecutive wins over relegation rivals, Yatai was relegated early after an 8-match winless streak. Tan Long contributed to 10 goals, accounting for 38.5% of the team’s total, but it was not enough to save them.

Having served Yatai for 9 years, Tan Long’s record stands at 246 appearances, 88 goals, and 29 assists, along with commendable loyalty. He is a symbol of Changchun Yatai, having experienced the club’s peak finishing 4th in the CSL and lows fighting in the second division for two seasons before promotion. At 37, Tan Long’s goal tally this season ranks just behind younger domestic forwards Wei Shihao (10 goals) and Wang Yudong (11 goals), proving he remains a top-tier domestic striker in the CSL.

At 36, Li Tixiang logged the most minutes among the 29 “CSL 80s veterans” this season. Except for a suspension in Round 26 due to a red card, he started all 29 matches and only missed full match time in 4 games. Li Tixiang is Zhejiang’s midfield mainstay, now in his third year with the club and having reached the milestone of 100 appearances, highlighting his indispensable role.

With age, Li Tixiang has grown more mature, showing increasingly impressive passing and game management in midfield. Defensively, he recorded 50 tackles and 42 fouls this season, ranking among the top CSL players. Offensively, Li Tixiang provided 7 assists despite focusing mainly on defense, just one fewer than domestic assist leaders Gao Tianyi, Xie Wen’ng, Wei Shihao, and Li Yuanyi (all with 8). His contribution to Zhejiang’s attack is significant. More importantly, Li Tixiang is not just a balanced midfielder but the true “brain” of the team’s midfield, controlling the rhythm of offense and defense with his passing, creating clear tactical intentions, making Zhejiang’s attack smoother, more diverse, and layered.

Compared to field players, goalkeepers tend to have longer careers. Among the 29 “CSL 80s veterans” this season, there are six goalkeepers by age: 36-year-olds Shao Puliang (Wuhan Three Towns), Hou Sen (Beijing Guoan), Mou Pengfei (Qingdao Hainiu), Wang Dalei (Shandong Taishan), 38-year-old Geng Xiaofeng (Yunnan Yukun), and 42-year-old Sui Weijie (Dalian Yingbo). Among them, only Geng Xiaofeng did not appear this season. Hou Sen stepped in due to starter Han Jiaqi’s serious injury and, with stable performances, replaced Wang Dalei and Yan Junling as Guoan’s top goalkeeper, becoming the oldest candidate among the 7 Best Goalkeeper nominees. Hou Sen has served Guoan for 19 seasons, setting the club record for most seasons by a goalkeeper. Guoan had planned to develop young keeper Han Jiaqi this season, but Han’s early injury forced Hou Sen back as the starter, proving his ability once again. On December 6th’s FA Cup final, Hou Sen played through injury, bleeding but fighting until the final whistle.

Hou Sen averaged 2.88 saves per game with a 64.3% success rate, ranking just below Zhao Bo (69.3%) and Wu Yake (67%) among the seven Best Goalkeeper candidates. He kept only 6 clean sheets in 25 matches, with goals conceded ranking mid-table. Hou Sen excels in goal-line technique and aerial control. More importantly, he is humble and mentally steady, notably saving penalty kicks in two consecutive FA Cup knockout shootouts, playing a key role in Guoan’s first FA Cup title in seven years.

Once one of the highest-valued domestic players in the CSL, Zhang Linpeng’s club career has been very successful. Now nearing the end of his career and plagued by knee injuries, he still chooses to persevere and plays with dedication. This season, while Yan Xiangchuang (Dalian Yingbo) and Yin Hongbo (Henan) retired, Zhang Linpeng’s persistence stands out even more.

Unlike other “CSL 80s veterans” who still start regularly, Zhang Linpeng mostly comes off the bench. What makes him invaluable is his unwavering professionalism, known for solid defense, strong assisting and passing skills. With 19 career titles, he naturally leads the locker room. Injuries may countdown his career’s end, but before that, he will continue to give his all and strive for more honors.

Like Zhang Linpeng, other veterans still contributing include his Shanghai Port teammate Lü Wenjun, Beijing Guoan midfielder Chi Zhongguo, Wuhan Three Towns defender Ren Hang, and Qingdao West Coast’s Chinese Taipei defender Chen Bo-liang. Though they rarely start, none have given up on their football dreams.

At 36, Jiang Zhipeng plays left-back and appeared 24 times this season, starting 19 matches and coming off the bench 5 times, making him one of Shenzhen New Pengcheng’s most consistent performers this season.

Jiang Zhipeng’s excellent technique makes him reliable defensively on the left flank, with strong passing and the ability to join attacks. This season, Jiang recorded 49 tackles, ranking high among domestic players. Offensively, he contributed 4 assists: one to equalize against Shenhua at home, laying the foundation for a full 3-point win; another assisting a goal after a tackle against Wuhan Three Towns as a second-half substitute; and two assists in a crucial relegation “six-point match” against Hainiu, helping Wesley score twice for a vital 3-point victory.

A product of the Shandong Luneng Academy, Zheng Zheng has served Shandong Taishan for 18 seasons, winning 7 championships and becoming a club legend. In recent years, his physical condition has declined with age. He missed 7 matches in the first half of this season but has mostly secured a starting spot since June, wearing the captain’s armband in 3 games.

By the end of this season, Zheng Zheng has made 343 CSL appearances and 448 in all competitions for Shandong Taishan, making him the club’s all-time leader in appearances in both top-tier league and all tournaments, holding a significant place in the club’s history. Although he still hopes to continue playing, injuries have forced him to plan for life after football. He has enrolled in the latest coaching course by the Football Association and is likely to pursue coaching in the future. Zheng still has one year left on his contract with Taishan, but whether he will complete his final playing duties remains uncertain.

Besides the aforementioned “CSL 80s veterans,” several other veterans have managed to secure starting roles and perform well this season, such as Wang Dalei (Shandong Taishan), Wang Gang (Beijing Guoan), and Zhang Chengdong (Qingdao West Coast). Unfortunately, their performances have been inconsistent, with moments of brilliance mixed with careless mistakes. More importantly, all have had disappointing disciplinary issues during the season, either serious fouls causing red cards or off-field incidents causing controversy.