Sun Wen (footballer)

Sun Wen (Template:Zh; born 6 April 1973) is a Chinese former professional footballer who played as a forward. She previously captained the China national team and the Atlanta Beat of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA).

In 2000, she won the FIFA Female Player of the Century along with Michelle Akers. Sun won both the Golden Ball (top player) and Golden Boot (top scorer) for her performance at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. She is considered one of the all-time greats of the women's game.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

After the retirement, she became vice-president of the Chinese Football Association in 2019.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early life

Sun began playing football around the age of ten. Her father, Sun Zonggao, was a recreational football player who took Sun with him to watch matches in the Chinese men's league. Sun credits him for influencing her foray into the sport.<ref name=ct_0799>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Sun studied Chinese literature at the University of Shanghai.

Playing career

Club

Shanghai SVA

Sun played for the Shanghai team in the Chinese women's league.<ref name=ct_0799 />

Atlanta Beat

Sun played for the Atlanta Beat of the Women's United Soccer Association from 2001 to 2002. She was the first overall pick of the WUSA's Inaugural Draft (together in the team, also was drafted her Asian compatriot Homare Sawa), but a knee and ankle injury limited her first season with the Beat to 13 games with five starts. During the league's semifinal match against the Philadelphia Charge, the Beat were down 2–0; however, Sun scored on a penalty kick and then provided the assist on the equalizer goal with a corner kick headed in by Cindy Parlow. The Beat would go on to win the match 3–2. She then notched the Beat's third goal in the Founders Cup, helping the team to an eventual 3–3 tie during regulation. The San Jose CyberRays won the title in a penalty kick shootout.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

During the 2002 season, Sun played in 18 games, making 10 starts. She scored four goals as the Beat earned another chance at the playoffs, but the Beat were eliminated in the semifinals.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Sun announced her retirement from the WUSA in January 2003 to return to China in preparation for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

International

Sun appeared on China's national squad at the age of 17 and went on to appear in four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments for China and became one of three women to have played all of China's 15 matches in its three World Cup appearances.<ref name=fifa_sw17>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1999, she had 10 goals in her World Cup career, leaving her tied for second place on an all-time scoring list.<ref name=ct_0799 />

Sun helped the national team win the Asian Cup in 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1997.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Sun led China to a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Athens, Georgia. During the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, Sun scored seven goals and earned the Golden Ball (top player) and Golden Boot (top scorer) at the tournament.

She returned to the Chinese women's team from a two-year retirement on 15 December 2005.<ref name=cnd_051216>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Due to injury reasons, Sun retired again after winning AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2006.

Matches and goals scored at World Cup and Olympic tournaments

Sun played 28 matches and scored 16 goals in 4 world cup tournaments and 2 Olympics: China 1991, Sweden 1995, Atlanta 1996, USA 1999, Sydney 2000, USA 2003; she played and started every match for China. Sun Wen, with her China teams, won a silver medal at Atlanta 1996 Olympics, and finished second at USA 1999 world cup.

Goal	Match	Date	Location	Opponent	Lineup	Min	Score	Result	Competition
colspan=10 Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Template:Flagicon China 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Guangzhou	Template:Fbw	Template:Subout			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Group stage
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Guangzhou	Template:Fbw	Start	37	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Group stage
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Foshan	Template:Fbw	Start			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Group stage
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Guangzhou	Template:Fbw	Start			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Quarter-final
colspan=10 Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Template:Flagicon Sweden 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Gävle	Template:Fbw	Start	79	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Group stage
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Västerås	Template:Fbw	Start			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Group stage
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Västerås	Template:Fbw	Start	76	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Group stage
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Helsingborg	Template:Fbw	Start			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Quarter-final
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Helsingborg	Template:Fbw	Start			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Semi-final
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Gävle	Template:Fbw	Template:Subout			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Third place match
colspan=10 Template:Fb bg olympic tournament | Template:Flagicon Atlanta 1996 Olympic Women's Football Tournament {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Miami	Template:Fbw	Start			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg olympic tournament | Group stage
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Miami	Template:Fbw	Template:Subout			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg olympic tournament | Group stage
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Miami	Template:Fbw	Start			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg olympic tournament | Group stage
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Athens GA	Template:Fbw	Start			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg olympic tournament | Semi-final
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Athens GA	Template:Fbw	Start	32	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg olympic tournament | Gold medal match
colspan=10 Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Template:Flagicon USA 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	San Jose CA	Template:Fbw	Template:Subout			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Group stage
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	17	1999-06-23<ref group=m name=mat017>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Portland OR	Template:Fbw	Start	9	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Sortfbs	rowspan=3 Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament |Group stage
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}			21				Template:Sortfbs
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}			54				Template:Sortfbs
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	18	1999-06-26<ref group=m name=mat018>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	E Rutherford NJ	Template:Fbw	Template:Subout	39	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Sortfbs	rowspan=2 Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament |Group stage
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}			51				Template:Sortfbs
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	San Jose CA	Template:Fbw	Start			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Quarter-final
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	20	1999-07-04<ref group=m name=mat020>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Boston	Template:Fbw	Start	3	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Sortfbs	rowspan=2 Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament|Semi-final
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}			72 pk				Template:Sortfbs
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Los Angeles	Template:Fbw	Start			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Final
colspan=10 Template:Fb bg olympic tournament | Template:FlagiconSydney 2000 Olympic Women's Football Tournament {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	22	2000-09-14<ref group=m name=mat022>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Canberra	Template:Fbw	Start	57	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Sortfbs	rowspan=2 Template:Fb bg olympic tournament |Group stage
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}			83				Template:Sortfbs
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Melbourne	Template:Fbw	Start	67	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg olympic tournament | Group stage
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Canberra	Template:Fbw	Start	75	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg olympic tournament | Group stage
colspan=10 Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Template:Flagicon USA 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Carson CA	Template:Fbw	Start; (c)	29	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Group stage
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Carson CA	Template:Fbw	Start; (c)			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Group stage
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Portland OR	Template:Fbw	Start; (c)			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Group stage
	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Portland OR	Template:Fbw	Start; (c)			Template:Sortfbs	Template:Fb bg world cup final tournament | Quarter-final

Honors and awards

A strong striker with great skills and passing abilities, Sun won both the Golden Boot (which she shared with Sissi, of Brazil) and the Golden Ball for the 1999 Women's World Cup, and became the first woman to be nominated for the Asian Football Confederation player of the year award.

In 2002, she received the FIFA Internet Award in the FIFA Female Player of the Century voting. While the overall award was won by American Michelle Akers, Sun received the most internet votes on the FIFA-website.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

International goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	19 November 1991	Guangzhou, China	Template:Fbw	1–1	2–2	1991 FIFA Women's World Cup
2.	7 October 1994	Fukuyama, Japan	Template:Fbw	1–0	2–0	1994 Asian Games
3.				2–0
4.	12 October 1994		Template:Fbw	2–0	2–0
5.	6 June 1995	Gävle, Sweden	Template:Fbw	3–3	3–3	1995 FIFA Women's World Cup
6.	10 June 1995	Västerås, Sweden	Template:Fbw	2–1	2–1
7.	24 September 1995	Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia	Template:Fbw	1–0	21–0	1995 AFC Women's Championship
8.				?–0
9.				?–0
10.	30 September 1995		Template:Fbw	1–0	4–0
11.	2 October 1995		Template:Fbw	1–0	2–0
12.	1 August 1996	Athens, United States	Template:Fbw	1–1	1–2	1996 Summer Olympics
13.	12 December 1997	Guangzhou, China	Template:Fbw	1–0	10–0	1997 AFC Women's Championship
14.				2–0
15.	24 January 1998		Template:Fbw	1–0	4–0	1998 Four Nations Tournament
16.				3–0
17.	21 July 1998	Montreal, Canada	Template:Fbw	1–0	4–0	Friendly
18.				3–0
19.				4–0
20.	14 March 1999	Faro, Portugal	Template:Fbw	1–0	4–0	1999 Algarve Cup
21.				2–0
22.	18 March 1999	Albufeira, Portugal	Template:Fbw	1–0	2–0
23.	25 March 1999	Holzwickede, Germany	Template:Fbw	2–0	3–0	Friendly
24.	22 April 1999	Hershey, United States	Template:Fbw	1–1	1–2
25.	23 June 1999	Portland, United States	Template:Fbw	1–0	7–0	1999 FIFA Women's World Cup
26.				3–0
27.				4–0
28.	26 June 1999	East Rutherford, United States	Template:Fbw	1–0	3–1
29.				2–0
30.	4 July 1999	Foxborough, United States	Template:Fbw	1–0	5–0
31.				5–0
32.	7 November 1999	Bacolod, Philippines	Template:Fbw	3–?	5–2	1999 AFC Women's Championship
33.	9 November 1999		Template:Fbw	2–0	15–0
34.				7–0
35.	19 November 1999		Template:Fbw	3–0	3–0
36.	12 March 2000	Lagoa, Portugal	Template:Fbw	1–0	4–0	2000 Algarve Cup
37.				4–0
38.	18 March 2000	Quarteira, Portugal	Template:Fbw	1–0	1–0
39.	31 May 2000	Canberra, Australia	Template:Fbw	1–0	1–0	Friendly
40.	2 June 2000	Sydney, Australia	Template:Fbw	1–0	1–1
41.	8 June 2000	Newcastle, Australia	Template:Fbw	1–2	2–2
42.	14 August 2000	Yangzhou, China	Template:Fbw	2–0	3–0	Friendly
43.	14 September 2000	Canberra, Australia	Template:Fbw	2–0	3–1	2000 Summer Olympics
44.				3–0
45.	17 September 2000	Melbourne, Australia	Template:Fbw	1–1	1–1
46.	20 September 2000	Canberra, Australia	Template:Fbw	1–1	1–2
47.	9 December 2001	New Taipei City, Taiwan	Template:Fbw	2–0	10–0	2001 AFC Women's Championship
48.	14 December 2001		Template:Fbw	1–2	1–3
49.	26 January 2003	Wuhan, China	Template:Fbw	2–0	2–0	2003 Four Nations Tournament
50.	22 February 2003	Marmande, France	Template:Fbw	2–0	2–1	Friendly
51.	16 March 2003	Ferreiras, Portugal	Template:Fbw	1–0	3–0	2003 Algarve Cup
52.				3–0
53.	18 March 2003	Albufeira, Portugal	Template:Fbw	2–1	2–1
54.	9 June 2003	Nakhon Sawan, Thailand	Template:Fbw	2–0	6–0	2003 AFC Women's Championship
55.	11 June 2003		Template:Fbw	3–0	12–0
56.				7–0
57.				8–0
58.				11–0
59.				12–0
60.	19 June 2003	Bangkok, Thailand	Template:Fbw	3–1	3–1
61.	7 September 2003	Dalian, China	Template:Fbw	2–0	13–0	Friendly
62.				5–0
63.				7–0
64.	21 September 2003	Carson, United States	Template:Fbw	1–0	1–0	2003 FIFA Women's World Cup

Personal life and Football administration career

After her retirement, Sun Wen worked in the Chinese media, advertising and education.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In August 2019, she was elected as the vice-president of the Chinese Football Association with a mission of the development of the women's football in China. <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She also worked as member of FIFA Technical Study Group in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup hosted in France and member of the Bid Evaluation Task Force for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.

See also

• List of association women football players with 100 or more international goals

References

Template:Reflist Match reports Template:Reflist

External links

• Template:Sports links