Qiu Li (Chinese: 邱礼, born June 6, 1981 in Shenyang, Liaoning, China) is a naturalised Chinese-Singaporean former professional association football player and current assistant coach of Shenyang Urban F.C.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1981-06-06) 6 June 1981 (age 41) | ||
| Place of birth | Shenyang, Liaoning, China | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder / Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Balestier Khalsa | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–1999 | Changchun Yatai | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000 | Changchun Yatai | 2 | (0) |
| 2001–2004 | Liaoning Zhongyu | 29 | (4) |
| 2005 | → Sinchi FC (loan) | 22 | (2) |
| 2006 | Young Lions | 25 | (19) |
| 2007 | Home United | 28 | (8) |
| 2008–2010 | Tampines Rovers | 75 | (33) |
| 2011–2012 | Home United | 41 | (23) |
| 2013 | Balestier Khalsa | 19 | (8) |
| 2014 | Home United | 20 | (6) |
| Total | 234 | (99) | |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2008–2013 | Singapore | 27 | (2) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of Aug 14, 2017 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of Aug 14, 2017 | |||
Qiu started his senior career in Changchun Yatai and transferred to Liaoning Zhongyu in 2001. He was released by the club in 2005 as he was surplus to requirements.
Qiu was brought to Singapore to play for the S. League club, Sinchi FC. After the club decided to pull out of the S-league for the 2006 season, he stayed in Singapore and agreed on a contract with the Young Lions where he excelled with 19 goals from 25 matches played.[1] He joined Home United FC in 2007 but failed to find his form and joined Tampines Rovers FC in 2008. Impressive displays in his debuting two seasons earned him Singapore citizenship. In 2011, he joined Home United again and in 2013 he joined Balestier Khalsa after being released by Home United.[2]
He returned to Home United for the third time in 2014.[3] However at the end of the season, he were released by the team again, and retired from playing professionally soon after.[4]
Qiu made his debut for the Singapore national football team on 28 May 2008, in a friendly against Bahrain.
However, on 24 November 2008, FIFA banned Qiu from playing for Singapore because he did not meet the new criteria stating that a new citizen needs to reside in his new country for five years. Qiu Li had only lived in Singapore for three years. Thus he would be only eligible to represent Singapore in 2010.[5] Singapore lost two games by forfeit (3–0) during 2010 World Cup qualifiers because Qiu was lined up.[6]
Qiu Li was naturalised in 2010 under the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme and was eligible to play for Singapore in 2010 under FIFA rules.[7]
On 23 July 2011, Qiu Li scored his first goal for Singapore in the first leg of the World Cup Qualifier against Malaysia played at a sold out crowd at Jalan Besar Stadium.
As of 2021, he was the last foreign-born footballer who received citizenship as part of Singapore's Foreign Sports Talent Scheme.[8][9]
After hanging up his boots, Qiu joined Liaoning Shenyang as a coach.[10]
Singapore
Home United
Balestier Khalsa