End of an Era! Yu Hanchao Announces Retirement — Only Two Active Chinese Players Who Have Reached an AFC Champions League Final Remain.

The number of active Chinese players who have reached — and even won — an AFC Champions League final has dwindled sharply. With Yu Hanchao playing his farewell match for Shanghai Shenhua last night, coach Leonid Slutsky confirmed that Yu will join the coaching staff next year, marking the end of his playing career. Another Chinese football legend has reached the end of an era, leaving only two active Chinese players who have ever appeared in an ACL final.

In the first leg of the 2015 AFC Champions League final, Guangzhou Evergrande drew 0–0 away against Al-Ahli Dubai, with Yu Hanchao coming on as a substitute in the 59th minute. In the home-leg decider, Evergrande clinched a 1–0 victory thanks to Elkeson’s crucial goal, securing their second ACL title. Throughout that campaign, Yu made 12 appearances and provided one assist, playing a meaningful role in the team’s championship run.

A full decade has passed since that triumph. Most Chinese players who featured in the 2013 and 2015 ACL finals — such as Gao Lin, Feng Xiaoting, Zheng Zhi, and Huang Bowen — have already retired. Zheng Zhi and Huang Bowen have taken up coaching roles within the national team setup. Now, Yu Hanchao will also transition into coaching, closing the chapter on a remarkable career.