Football Friends Online – When 90 Mins Is Not EnoughSun and blue moon together again - Football Friends Online - When 90 Mins Is Not Enough Sun and blue moon together again - Football Friends Online - When 90 Mins Is Not Enough

Sun and blue moon together again

Ex City player, Sun Jihai will be back in Manchester on Tuesday to see his old side, much changed from even his days almost ten years ago, taking on Liverpool as they continue their assault on the Premier League established elite.

Making his debut in the 4-2 win against Coventry in the First Division at the start of City’s final rise to the Premiership under the stewardship of Kevin Keegan he made only two starts that last part of his first season. However the Premiership season of 2002-03 he would become a regular in the City starting lineup featuring in twenty five times and coming on as sub a further three. His first goal for the club came in October that year and with that he became the first Chinese player to score in the Premiership. During that season Huckerby, Howey, Goater and Benarbia would leave and two liverpudlians would make their bow, Fowler eventually signed and Barton coming through the City ranks. McManaman and David Seaman came on board the next season as City went through a period of giving old ex England internationals their last big pay check. 

Almost a year on from his first City goal the Chinese International was injured in a game against Chelsea and the result of the injury was a season out. He came back but was injured again in the 2006-07 season and although he did come back once more yet another Managerial change meant that Sun fell down the pecking order. 

Sven Goran Eriksson backed by Thaksin Shinawatras money bought in Croatian defender Vedran Corluka with Michael Ball (the player not the singer) preferred on the substitutes bench before Jihai. He was then sold to Sheffield United in the Championship but disciplinary problems and more injuries meant that he would be loaned to the Chinese Division One club, owned by and called ‘The Blades’. 

January 2010 Jihai made his move back to China permanent with a move to Shaanxi and joined up with his ex National team manager. 

On Tuesday and accompanied by his family and a Chinese television crew Jihai will be welcomed as a guest of honour at the game and is sure to hear a rendition if ‘aye aye ippie’.

Thanks to Blue Moon for the article

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