Hu Hetao

Hu Hetao (born 5 October 2003) is a Chinese professional footballer who plays as a left wing-back for Chinese Super League club Chengdu Rongcheng.

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 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.

Personal life
Hu Hetao was a ball boy at the 2021 Chinese FA Cup final.