Qiu Li


Qiu Li is a naturalised Chinese-Singaporean former professional association football player.

Club Career

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 now defunct 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. 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.
He returned to Home United for the third time in 2014. However at the end of the season, he were released by the team again, and retired from playing professionally soon after.

International Career

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 3 years. Thus he would be only eligible for international football come 2010. Singapore lost two games by forfeit during World cup 2010 qualifiers because Qiu was lined up.
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. Singapore won 5–3.
He was, as of 2017, the last foreign-born footballer who received citizenship as part of Singapore's Foreign Sports Talent Scheme.

Coaching Career

After he hung up his boots, Qiu joined Liaoning Shenyang as a coach.

Honours

International

Singapore
Home United
Balestier Khalsa