Li Sirong (Chinese: 李嗣镕; born 4 May 2003), sometimes known in Europe as Sam Li,[2] is a Chinese footballer who plays as a right-back for Croatian side Orijent.

Sam Li
Personal information
Full name Li Sirong[1]
Date of birth (2003-05-04) 4 May 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Dalian, Liaoning, China[1]
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
Orijent
Number 23
Youth career
2016–2023 ADO Den Haag
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023 ADO Den Haag 0 (0)
2023Vejle (loan) 1 (0)
2023 Vejle 0 (0)
2023–2024 Dubrava 8 (0)
2024– Orijent 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:14, 17 August 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Born in Dalian, Liaoning, Li started playing football at the age of eight.[3] His mother took him to Spain, Germany, and France, before deciding that the Netherlands would be the best place for her son to pursue a career in football.[3] He moved to the Netherlands at the age of twelve, training with an amateur side for over a year before passing a trial with professional side ADO Den Haag.[3]

In February 2020, he suffered a serious injury to his knee, keeping him out for almost a year.[4] Despite this, he recovered to sign his first professional contract with ADO Den Haag in January 2021, a three-and-a-half-year deal.[5]

In January 2023, he was loaned to Danish side Vejle.[2][6] He made his debut for Vejle in June 2023 and at the end of the season, the Li made a permanent move to Vejle.[7] On 13 September 2023, Vejle confirmed that Li had been sold to an unnamed Croatian club.[8] The club was later revealed as NK Dubrava.

Personal life

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Li is the son of former Chinese international footballer, and current general manager of Beijing Guoan, Li Ming.[9]

As well as professional football, Li also works as a model, and has worked with French personal care brand L'Oréal.[4] He has also modelled Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta and German brand Puma clothing, both for American men's magazine GQ.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 7 January 2024.[10][11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
ADO Den Haag 2022–23 Eerste Divisie 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Vejle (loan) 2022–23 Danish 1st Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Vejle 2023–24 Danish Superliga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dubrava 2023–24 Prva NL 1 0 2[a] 0 0 0 3 0
Career total 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Notes
  1. ^ Appearances in the Croatian Cup

References

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  1. ^ a b c Li Sirong at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b "Sam Li en Fabian Shahaj verhuurd tot einde seizoen" [Sam Li and Fabian Shahaj on loan until the end of the season]. adodenhaag.nl (in Dutch). 24 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "18岁"球二代"火出圈 李嗣镕凭的不只是帅" [The 18-year-old "Second Generation Ball" Li Sirong is not only handsome]. fashion.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 1 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b "晋升品牌体验官的背后,中国留洋小将李嗣镕努力逐梦" [Behind the promotion of brand experience officer, Li Sirong, a young Chinese studying abroad, strives to pursue his dream]. ppsport.com (in Chinese). 15 April 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  5. ^ "全家都是高颜值!李嗣镕签约海牙后晒家人合照 姐姐也是个美人" [The whole family is good-looking! Li Sirong posted a photo of his family after signing with The Hague, and his sister is also a beauty]. ppsport.com (in Chinese). 28 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  6. ^ "李嗣镕加盟丹麦瓦埃勒租期为半年 - 球天下体育" [Li Sirong joins Danish Vejle on a lease of half a year]. qtx.com (in Chinese). 7 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  7. ^ Møllenberg, Anders (13 September 2023). "VB siger farvel til forsvarsspiller: Han fortsætter i en endnu ukendt kroatisk klub" [VB says goodbye to defender: He continues in an as yet unknown Croatian club]. vafo.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  8. ^ Pelch, Morten (13 September 2023). "Sirong Li skifter til kroatisk fodbold" [Sirong Li switches to Croatian football]. vejle-boldklub.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Football dream passes from father to son". People's Daily.
  10. ^ Li Sirong at Soccerway
  11. ^ "Statistics". semafor.hns.family (in Croatian). Retrieved 7 January 2024.