Paul Gascoigne, Demba Ba, Nicolas Anelka… 15 football stars who moved to China before it was cool
In 2016-17, the coolest thing to do it would seem is jet off to China for an eye-watering pay packet, but this is no new thing
FOOTBALL has always had its fads, from vapo-rub on the shirt and nose strips to snoods and odd coloured boots.
But in 2016-17 the coolest thing to do it would seem is jet off to China for an eye-watering pay packet.
Oscar, Carlos Tevez, Axel Witsel... The kids are all doing it, these days.
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However, there have been a host of star names to jet off to China, before it was the hip thing to do, don't you know.
We take a look at 15 of the biggest names to head off to the Chinese Super League before the revolution had even begun...
PAUL GASCOIGNE
LONG before the modern heroes all upped sticks and headed to China there was the mercurial talent that was Gazza.
Very much in the twilight of his career, the ex-England ace played four games for Gansu Tianma, but as ever with Gascoigne, it was incident-packed.
The troubled star scored twice before he broke down with depression, before checking into a clinic in Arizona - never to return, in no small part due to the Sars virus hitting the nation while he was away.
On his stint in China, Gazza was clearly less than impressed, saying: “At the end of 2002 I flew out to China.
“I was soon feeling bored and restless. It was like being locked in a cave.
“At a loose end one day I noticed a pool at the front of the hotel, an ornamental thing with koi carp in it. I said to Wes [Saunders, his agent] ‘Let’s go fishing.’
“I went to my hotel room and fetched that little packet of needles and thread that hotels provide and you never use. Not me. anyway. Why would I want to be sewing?
"I tied the thread to the bamboo cane, bent a needle at the end to make a hook, put a lump of Chinese Jammie Dodger at the end, and I was off to the pool to do some fishing.
“I caught one. I blew a kiss to the heavens and fell to me knees. It made my day. After that, China began to grow on me.”
DEMBA BA
HARDLY as entertaining as Gazza, former Newcastle and Chelsea man Ba jetted off to China in 2015 to join Shanghai Greenland Shenhua.
Despite suffering an horrendous leg injury last summer, he has been mostly successful, netting 20 goals in just 29 games.
NICOLAS ANELKA
THE 'Incredible Sulk' himself jetted off to China back in 2012 - leaving the heady heights of Chelsea.
French forward Anelka joined Shanghai Shenhua in a typically eventful stint.
Despite being there no more than 12 months, Anelka was named as part of the coaching staff, helped convince Didier Drogba to join the club, argued with a fan, left to join Juventus on loan before moving to West Brom.
FREDERIC KANOUTE
LEAVING European giants Sevilla to join Beijing Guoan is somewhat the norm, but in 2012, Kanoute was something of a trend-setter.
The ex-Spurs forward played 38 times, netting just 12 times in two season in China.
FABIO ROCHEMBACK
EX-Middlesbrough and Barcelona ace Rochemback was at the end of his career when he left Brazilian side Gremio to join Dalian Aerbin in 2012.
He turned out 51 times, netting seven times before leaving just a year later.
MARLON HAREWOOD
WEST HAM icon Harewood was playing for Blackpool in 2011 when Guangzhou came knocking - and his stint was the absolute definition of 'short and sweet'.
He turned out just ten times, netting four goals as he helped them gain promotion to the fop flight, before leaving to link up with Nuneaton Town six months later.
PAULINHO
THE former Spurs ace left White Hart Lane for Guangzhou Evergrande in 2015 and in a bizarre twist has actually helped his career progress.
While many players go to wind down their career or pocket some extra cash, Paulinho has actually broken back into the Brazil set-up in recent months after over a year away thanks to his form in the CSL.
SEYDOU KEITA
THE former Barcelona star swapped the Nou Camp, Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi for Dalian Aerbin in 2012.
In just over a year he turned out 37 times, netting ten goals before leaving for the Qatar Stars League - where he plays for El Jaish SC.
TIM CAHILL
EX-Everton supremo and abuser of corner flags Cahill left the New York Red Bulls in 2015 to head out on a new adventure.
The Australian midfielder turned out 28 times for Shanghai Shenhua, netting 11 goals before heading to Melbourne for a crack at football in his home nation.
YAKUBU
ANOTHER former Toffee, Yakubu is another big-name to head off to China back in 2012.
The Nigerian left Blackburn to link up with Guangzhou, lasting just 12 months - netting 24 times in 43 games - before heading to Qatar to play for Al-Rayyan and then back to England to play for Reading.
ALBERTO GILARDINO
ONCE one of the biggest names in Serie A, Gilardino swapped it all for a new life in China, when he joined Guangzhou Evergrande in 2014.
The Italian netted five times in 14 games before heading back to his homeland to play for Fiorentina and then Pescara.
JO
ARGUABLY the biggest flop in Manchester City's money-bags era, Jo ended up at Jiangsu Suning as recently as 2016.
He found the net five times in 17 games before joining Corinthians in his native Brazil.
LI TIE
AFTER stints at Premier League sides Everton and Sheffield United, Li Tie headed back to his native China.
The defensive midfielder turned out for Chengdu Blades and Liaoning Whowin for three years before his retirement.
Last season he was head coach of Hebei CFFC and to this day remains assistant boss of the Chinese national team.
STIG TOFTING
FORMER tough-tackling Denmark and Bolton midfielder Tofting is another star to head out to China before it was the trendy thing to do.
Tofting linked up with Tiajin Teda immediately after leaving the Reebok Stadium when he spent one year and 17 appearances.
DAN PETRESCU
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY, Chelsea, Bradford and Southampton cult icon Petrescu may never have played in China, but he makes our list thanks to his managerial escapades.
Somehow the Romanian has managed 12 teams since 2003 - one of which was Jiangsu Suning last season.