Lai Yiu Cheong (Chinese: 黎耀昌; Jyutping: lai4 jiu6 coeng1; born 25 September 1988) is a former Hong Kong professional footballer who played as a right winger.

Lai Yiu Cheong
Personal information
Full name Lai Yiu Cheong
Date of birth (1988-09-25) 25 September 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Hong Kong
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Right winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Sai Kung
2004–2008 Rangers 11 (0)
2008–2009 Fourway 9 (1)
2009–2012 Pegasus 43 (5)
2012–2013 Tuen Mun 21 (2)
2014 Sun Hei 9 (2)
2014–2015 Wong Tai Sin 16 (1)
2015–2017 South China 3 (0)
2016–2017Rangers (loan) 12 (3)
2017–2019 Lee Man 10 (0)
2018Yuen Long (loan) 2 (1)
2019–2022 Icanfield 26 (2)
International career
2008–2010 Hong Kong U-23 4 (0)
2010 Hong Kong 2 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Hong Kong
East Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2009 Hong Kong Football
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 February 2020
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2015

Club career

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Rangers

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Lai Yiu Cheong made his Hong Kong First Division debut in the 2006–07 season. On 29 September 2006, Lai Yiu Cheong earned a place in the match squad list in the match against HKFC, but was an unused substitute player. Then, he finally made his first division league debut on 18 November 2006, in a match against Tai Po, being substituted 3 minutes before the end of the match. He finally had three league appearances and played one match in Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield and Hong Kong FA Cup, respectively.

In the 2007–08 season, Lai Yiu Cheong got a lot more chances. He made 8 league appearances, although he was only a usual substitute in the team. For cup games, he played 3 Hong Kong League Cup games and 1 Hong Kong FA Cup match. However, he could not help the team to stay in the First Division.

Fourway

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After spending 2 seasons in Rangers, he followed former Rangers club director Lee Fai Lap and joined the newly formed club Fourway in the beginning of the 2008–09 season. He scored his first first division league goal in the match against Tuen Mun Progoal on 31 October 2008. He made 9 league appearances and played 3 Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield matches. He then eventually left the club in January 2009.

Pegasus

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Lai Yiu Cheong joined Pegasus in January 2009. He was given the kit number 26. He had been an important player since his transfer to the club. He made 11 league appearances and scored 2 goals in his first season in Pegasus.

In the 2009–10 season, Lai Yiu Cheong made a total of 18 appearances, including 14 league games, 2 Senior Shield games and 2 FA Cup games. He scored only one goal for the team in the season, which was the winning goal for the team against Tai Po on 20 February 2010. He helped the team to win a place for the 2011 AFC Cup group stage.

In the 2010–11 season he played many matches for the team. He played 14 league games and scored 1 league goal. The goal was scored in the home game against South China on 22 April 2011. However, the goal did not help the team to win the game, being defeated 2—3. He featured all 6 AFC Cup group stage matches for the team and scored 2 goals. However, the team did not qualify to the knock-out stage.

Tuen Mun

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On 13 June 2012, Lai Yiu Cheong joined Tuen Mun.

Sun Hei

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On 1 January 2014, Rangers director Philip Lee announced that Lai would join Sun Hei on loan after being released by Tuen Mun.

Lee Man

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On 3 July 2017, Lai moved to Lee Man.[1] He signed with the club following Lee & Man Paper's decision to withdraw their sponsorship with Rangers and form their own HKPL club.

On 24 January 2018, Yuen Long acquired Lai on loan for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.[2] He scored one goal in two appearances during his loan spell.

Lai left the club after the end of the 2018–19 season.

Honours

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Club

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Lee Man

International

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Hong Kong

Career statistics

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Club

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Club Season League Senior Shield League Cup FA Cup AFC Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rangers 2006-07 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 0
2007-08 8 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 12 0
Total 11 0 1 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 17 0
Fourway 2008-09 9 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 12 1
Total 9 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 1
Pegasus 2008-09 11 2 0 0 3 0 1 0 15 2
2009-10 14 1 2 0 2 0 18 1
2010-11 14 1 1 0 3 0 2 1 6 2 26 4
2011-12 4 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 8 1
TSW Pegasus Total 43 5 7 0 6 0 5 1 6 2 67 8
Career Total 63 6 11 0 9 0 7 1 6 2 96 9

International

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Hong Kong

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As of 7 January 2011
# Date Venue Opponent Result Scored Competition
1 6 January 2010 National Stadium, Madinat 'Isa, Bahrain   Bahrain 0–4 0 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
2 10 October 2010 Kaohsiung National Stadium, Kaohsiung   Macau 4–0 0 2010 Long Teng Cup

Hong Kong U-23

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As of 4 December 2010
# Date Venue Opponent Result Scored Competition
1 15 June 2008 Estádio Campo Desportivo, Macau   Macau 1–0 0 2008 Hong Kong–Macau Interport
2 4 December 2009 Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground, Hong Kong   South Korea 4–1 0 2009 East Asian Games
3 20 June 2010 Estádio Campo Desportivo, Macau   Macau 5–1 0 2010 Hong Kong–Macau Interport
4 15 November 2010 Huangpu Sports Center, Guangzhou, China   Oman 0–3 0 2010 Asian Games

Personal life

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On 29 May 2018, Lai married his girlfriend of ten years, Yuki.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "理文密密簽唔想再靠借?". on.cc. Retrieved 3 July 2017. (in Chinese)
  2. ^ "理文翼鋒外借加盟元朗 黎耀昌:希望找回初出道的感覺". HK 01. Retrieved 24 January 2018. (in Chinese)
  3. ^ "結婚的季節!「扭扭昌」都娶老婆". on.cc. Retrieved 24 May 2018. (in Chinese)
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