Cheng Siu Chung (Chinese: 鄭兆聰; Cantonese Yale: Jehng Siuhchūng; born 29 September 1972) is a Hong Kong football manager and former professional footballer. He is currently the technical director of Hong Kong Premier League club Southern.

Cheng Siu Chung
鄭兆聰
Cheng Siu Chung in 2011
Personal information
Full name Cheng Siu Chung
Date of birth (1972-09-29) 29 September 1972 (age 52)
Place of birth Hong Kong
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Southern (Technical director)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1990 CS Uruguay
1990–1993 Alajuelense
1993–1994Happy Valley (loan)
1994–1995 Eastern
1996 South China
1996–1998 Instant-Dict
1998–2000 South China
2000–2001 Instant-Dict
2001–2002 South China
2002–2003 Happy Valley 11 (1)
2003–2005 Kitchee 5 (1)
2006–2010 Southern 4 (0)
International career
1988–1991 Costa Rica U20 9 (6)
1997–2000 Hong Kong 8 (7)
Managerial career
2006–2008 Southern
2009–2015 Kitchee (assistant coach)
2015–2020 Southern
2021–2022 Southern (technical director)
2022–2023 Southern
2023– Southern (technical director)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 June 2023

He served as a commentator for the 2010 FIFA World Cup for the Cantonese subscription television network, Astro Wah Lai Toi.[1]

Club career

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Cheng moved to Costa Rica when he was 8 years old along with his parents and sister, and is fluent in Spanish and English as well as his native Cantonese. His father, Cheng Kwok Kan, was a famous footballer in Hong Kong who played for Happy Valley before moving to Costa Rica. Cheng started his career in Costa Rica where he also represented Costa Rica for the youth level.

In 1994, Alajuelense sold Cheng to Eastern for a then record transfer fee of HK$234,000.[2] It has been the highest transfer fee record in Hong Kong First Division League. The record stood until 2007 when South China bought Chan Wai Ho from Hong Kong Rangers by HK$400,000.[3]

Managerial career

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While serving a coach at Kitchee, also played for Southern which at the time were in the Hong Kong Third District Division League.

On 7 May 2015, Kitchee announced on Facebook that Cheng had been hired by Southern as their new manager after the district club announced that they would seek a license to compete in the 2015-16 Hong Kong Premier League.[4]

After five seasons, Cheng departed Southern on 16 March 2020 after a falling out with Southern's upper management.[5] He failed to win any trophies for Southern during his spell with the club.

On 13 June 2022, Cheng returned to Southern as the club's new head coach.

On 3 June 2023, Cheng changed his role as the technical director of Southern.

Honours

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Player

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Club

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Alajuelense
Eastern
Instant-Dict
South China
Happy Valley

Individual

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Assistant manager

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Kitchee

References

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  1. ^ 2010世界杯速遞 (in Chinese). 1 June 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  2. ^ "鄭兆聰成名路". Apple Daily. 1 September 2002. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  3. ^ "陳偉豪40萬轉會費破紀錄". Ta Kung Pao. 21 April 2007. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  4. ^ "傑志放人!鄭兆聰下季教南區". on.cc. Retrieved 7 May 2015. (in Chinese)
  5. ^ Yuen, Chi Ho. "南區兩連敗兼失9球 鄭兆聰:要求全勝並不公平". HK01. Retrieved 16 March 2020. (in Chinese)