Hu Hetao


Hu Hetao is a Chinese professional footballer who plays as a left wing-back for Chinese Super League club Chengdu Rongcheng and the China national team.

Early life

Born in Wanzhou, Chongqing, Hu Hetao attended Chongqing Yucai Secondary School until 2018, prior to starting a professional football career. In 2022, after spending the few years prior preparing for Gaokao, he was called up to the Chengdu Rongcheng first-team.

Club career

Before the 2022 Chinese Super League season, Hu Hetao was named in Chengdu Rongcheng's 31-man first-team squad, to which Hu Hetao reacts as "fulfilling his dream." He made his professional debut in the Chinese Super League on 4 June 2022 in a match against Shenzhen, playing 74 minutes as a starter at left wing-back. He scored his first senior goal a month later on 11 July 2022, providing an equalising goal after coming on as a substitute, to see Chengdu Rongcheng eventually turn the game around, winning 2–1 away against Meizhou Hakka. After putting in a good shift against Wuhan [Three Towns F.C.|Wuhan Three Towns] on 23 December 2022, Hu Hetao was selected as the CSL's Player of the Round. After a successful debut season with Chengdu Rongcheng, he was shortlisted as a candidate for the club's player of the season.
In the 2023 season, Hu Hetao was regularly called up to the China U20 and the China U23 national teams, participating in months-long national team training camps. As a result, he could not find consistent game time at club level, and caused a steep dip in his form, only managing eight appearances in all competitions throughout the season.

International career

In February 2023, Hu was selected as part of the China U20 squad for the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup. Throughout the year of 2023, Hu Hetao was called up to several months-long training camps at the U20 and the U23 levels.
On 5 April 2024, Hu was included in the China U23 squad for the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.
Hu made his debut for the China national team on 10 October 2024 in a 2026 [FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round|World Cup qualifier] against Australia at the Adelaide Oval. He played the full game as Australia won 3–1.

Personal life

Hu Hetao was a ball boy at the 2021 [Chinese FA Cup] final.

Honours

China U23