Cao Kang (Chinese: 曹康; pinyin: Cáo Kāng; born 8 January 1993) is a Chinese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Chinese Super League club Nantong Zhiyun.

Cao Kang
Personal information
Full name Cao Kang
Date of birth (1993-01-08) 8 January 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Boxing County, Shandong, China
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Nantong Zhiyun
Number 25
Youth career
–2013 Jiangsu FA
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Jiangsu Youth 31 (3)
2014–2017 Jiangsu Suning 0 (0)
2017Heilongjiang Lava Spring (loan) 22 (1)
2018–2022 Heilongjiang Ice City 116 (7)
2023– Nantong Zhiyun 48 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 July 2024

Career

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Early career

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Born in Boxing County in Binzhou, Shandong, Cao Kang moved to the city of Changzhou in Jiangsu at a young age,[1][2] where he started his football journey, being in the Jiangsu provincial youth team squad that participated in the 2011 China League Two.[3] In 2013, Cao Kang was included in Jiangsu Province's squad for the 2013 National Games of China at the under-20 level.[4] The same year, Cao Kang gained playing experience in an off-season friendly in a 4–0 loss as he faced Russian side CSKA Moscow.[2] In 2014, Cao was named in Jiangsu Sainty's first-team squad for the 2014 Chinese Super League season.[5] In 2016, after Jiangsu's Chinese FA Cup win in 2015, Cao Kang was included in the club's 2016 AFC Champions League squad.[1]

Heilongjiang Ice City

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On 13 March 2017, Cao Kang signed for Heilongjiang Lava Spring on loan.[1] He scored his first goal for the club on 17 June 2017 in a 2–1 away league victory at Dalian Boyoung.[6] He helped the team clinch the 2017 China League Two title, securing promotion to China League One.[7] On 1 March 2018, Heilongjiang Lava Spring announced that they signed Cao Kang on a permanent basis.[8] In the league opener on 11 March 2018, Cao Kang scored an equaliser in a 2–2 draw with eventual league runners-up Shenzhen.[9] On 25 May 2019, Cao Kang opened the scoring in a 2–0 victory over Liaoning.[10] On the final day of the 2019 China League One season on 2 November, Cao Kang scored a brace in a 4–1 win over Changchun Yatai to help Heilongjiang reach fourth place, the highest league position the club has reached in its history, as well as break Changchun Yatai's chances of an immediate promotion back to the Chinese Super League.[11] On 1 July 2022, Cao Kang scored Heilongjiang Ice City's second goal in a 3–1 win over Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard.[12] Accumulatively over his five permanent seasons at the club, Cao Kang provided seven goals in 118 appearances.[13]

Nantong Zhiyun

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On 23 January 2023, Cao Kang signed for newly-promoted Chinese Super League side Nantong Zhiyun.[14] He scored his first goal for Nantong Zhiyun on 7 July 2023, in a 1–1 away draw with Tianjin Jinmen Tiger.[15] He scored his second goal of the 2023 season on 8 August, in a 1–1 draw against Zhejiang.[16] The following season, Cao Kang scored the only goal in a 1–0 home win over Meizhou Hakka on 5 April 2024.[17]

Style of play

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Cao Kang has been described by Nantong Zhiyun as having great aggressiveness and pressing, bringing defensive cover, and being capable of contributing on both sides of the pitch.[14]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 26 July 2024[13]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Jiangsu Youth 2011 China League Two 12 0 12 0
2012 China League Two 19 3 19 3
Total 31 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 31 3
Jiangsu Suning 2014 Chinese Super League 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015 Chinese Super League 0 0 0 0 0 0
2016 Chinese Super League 0 0 0 0 0[a] 0 0[b] 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Heilongjiang Lava Spring (loan) 2017 China League Two 22 1 1 0 5[c] 0 28 1
Heilongjiang Ice City 2018 China League One 29 1 0 0 29 1
2019 China League One 22 4 2 0 24 4
2020 China League One 14 0 2[d] 0 16 0
2021 China League One 19 1 0 0 19 1
2022 China League One 32 1 0 0 32 1
Total 116 7 2 0 0 0 2 0 118 8
Nantong Zhiyun 2023 Chinese Super League 28 2 2 0 30 2
2024 Chinese Super League 20 2 0 0 20 2
Total 48 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 50 4
Career total 217 15 5 0 0 0 7 0 229 15
  1. ^ Appearances in AFC Champions League
  2. ^ Appearances in Chinese FA Super Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in China League Two play-offs
  4. ^ Appearances in China League One relegation play-offs

Honours

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Heilongjiang Ice City

References

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  1. ^ a b c "官方:火山鸣泉签下8名球员". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). 13 March 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b "莫斯科中央陆军4-0江苏全运队 德拉甘刺探军情" (in Chinese). Sohu. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  3. ^ "2011年中乙联赛完全名单之江苏紫金保险足球队" (in Chinese). Sohu. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  4. ^ "全运会男足-辽宁上海新疆携手晋级 四川山东出局" (in Chinese). Sina Sports. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  5. ^ "江苏舜天2014中超名单:德扬穿10号 多名国脚领衔" (in Chinese). Sina Sports. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  6. ^ "中乙战报:北区领头羊苦吞主场两连败 包头惨遭联赛九连败" (in Chinese). Sohu. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  7. ^ "3:0完胜梅县 黑龙江火山鸣泉豪夺中乙冠军" (in Chinese). General Administration of Sport of China. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  8. ^ "官方:曹康、赵伟加盟黑龙江". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). 1 March 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  9. ^ "深足2-2黑龙江,吕海东世界波,维克托点射,曹康扳平比分". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). 11 March 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  10. ^ "黑龙江2-0辽宁终结三轮不胜,曹康、李帅破门,杨磊中柱". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). 25 May 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  11. ^ "亚泰客场1-4惨败黑龙江冲超失败,曹康梅开二度+世界波破门". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  12. ^ "黑龙江3-1新疆终结连败,曹康传射,佧米然贴地斩". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). 1 July 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  13. ^ a b Cao Kang at Soccerway
  14. ^ a b "官方:30岁的曹康加盟南通支云,此前效力过江苏舜天". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). 23 January 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  15. ^ "半程不败!津门虎1-1南通,谢维军补时绝平救主,曹康破门". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). 7 July 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  16. ^ "浙江1-1南通支云,薛庆浩扑点+神扑,赵博染红离场". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). 8 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  17. ^ "南通1-0梅州取赛季首胜,曹康一击制胜,马塔中楣". www.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). 5 April 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
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