Hao Haidong (pictured), China's legendary striker, is now seeing his son slowly following in his footsteps by signing with the B-team of La Liga side Granada. (Photo : Getty Images)
It looks like the future of Chinese football is set to progress continuously, given the recent signing of two Chinese footballers by Spanish side Granada in its youth setup. Interestingly, one of the footballers is a son of legendary China international Hao Haidong.
La Liga outfit Granada, currently at the bottom of this season's La Liga, completed two five-year deals to goalkeeper Wang Zixiang and defender Hao Runze. He is the son of striking hero Hao Haidong, and both are set to join the club's B-team setup for an opportunity to grow into one of the club's first-team regulars.
The 19-year-old Hao Runze has European youth experience to boot. He became part of the youth setup at Spanish side Albacete in 2013 after moving from Beijing Guoan, and spent a year at Lokomotiva Zagreb in Croatia afterward.
Given Hao Haidong's popular reputation in China, it would not be unusual for Chinese football fans to expect Hao Runze's career to take on the same impressive track his father has enjoyed at his peak, albeit at a different position given his current designation as a defender.
Hao Haidong, who has endeared himself to Chinese football fans as the "Chinese Alan Shearer" for his propensity to score goals, has 41 goals in 107 games for the Chinese national football team, as well as 97 goals in his club career that spanned 178 games across two clubs, Bayi FC and Dalian Shide.
Such was the vaunted reputation of Hao Haidong that entailed English side Sheffield United to take the chance and secure his services for just £1--a value that is made partly out of Dalian Shide's goodwill for his services and partly for a planned coaching position with the Blades.
The rather-symbolic reason of Hao Haidong's transfer to Sheffield United became the talk of the town in Chinese football, as it underlines the Blades' long-term goal of securing footballing talent in the Far East through its Chinese football academy.
However, Hao Haidong failed to have even the slightest opportunity to replicate his form back in China, as he got to play only one game for Sheffield United amid injuries. His decision to retire in 2007 ends a stellar career that saw China gain qualification for the 2002 World Cup with his help.
