Former China captain and Grimsby Town hero Zhang Enhua dies, aged 48
- Goalscoring defender, who ended career at South China, was part of the Chinese team to qualify for 2002 Fifa World Cup in Japan and South Korea
- Fondly remembered in Grimsby where he helped keep the Mariners in England’s second tier during the 2000-01 season
Former China national football team captain and Grimsby Town cult hero Zhang Enhua died on Thursday, aged 48, according to reports in Chinese media.
State news agency Xinhua cited a source close to his family confirming the news, which had quickly spread throughout Chinese social media platforms on Thursday.
The Chinese Football Asscociation wrote a tribute on China’s Twitter-like Weibo, listing the former footballer’s career achievements, including seven league titles with his hometown side Dalian Shide.
“Comrade Zhang Enhua, a former member of the Chinese National Men’s Football Team, died of illness on April 29, 2021 at the age of 48,” the CFA’s post began, ending “Zhang Enhua rests in peace, go all the way!”
Zhang made his China debut in 1995 and the defender was part of the China squad who qualified for the 2002 Fifa World Cup in Japan and South Korea, the only time that the men’s national team have played at the World Cup.
