Cheung Chi Doy

Cheung Chi Doy (or transliterated as Chang Tse Da; born 30 March 1941) is a Hong Kong former professional footballer. Started his career in native Hong Kong, in the British Empire, he also played for English side Blackpool. In international level, he represented Republic of China (aka Taiwan, now Chinese Taipei national team).

Cheung was the first Asian and Hong Kong football player to play in Europe. He began his career in the Hong Kong First Division at 14 years of age. In 1960, he went to play for English club Blackpool, where he was a teammate of Jimmy Armfield. He became the first ethnic Chinese player to appear in the top flight of English football. He made two appearances for Blackpool's first team and scored one goal, against Sheffield Wednesday on November 25, 1961. In 1968, he and his brother Cheung Chi Wai joined the Vancouver Royals, playing under Bobby Robson in the North American Soccer League. While he began the season in Vancouver, he finished it with the St. Louis Stars. He also played for Tung Wah, Kitchee and Jardine SA in the Hong Kong First Division.

Since the end of Cheung's stint at Blackpool in 1962, he remains the first and, thus far, only Hong Kong-born football player to have ever played for a top-flight European club. He remains the only Hongkonger to have played professional football in England.

In the 1963-64 season, he scored a record number of 42 goals playing for Kitchee SC.

Personal life
Cheung Chi Doy's father, Chang King Hai, and brother Cheung Chi Wai were also footballers.

Cheung Chi Doy's son, Nelson Cheung (also known as Nel Nel, 5 June 1963 - 18 May 2023), was an actor and fashion designer. Nelson committed suicide on 18 May 2023.

In 2011 Cheung Chi Doy was arrested for shoplifting in a supermarket. He was fined HK$2,000 by the court.

Honours
Kitchee
 * Hong Kong First Division League: 1963-64

Sing Tao
 * Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield: 1966-67

Individual
 * Asian All Stars: 1965, 1966, 1967
 * MasterCard Asian/Oceanian Team of the 20th Century: 1998