Xu Deshuai (; born 13 July 1987) is a former Chinese-born Hong Kong professional footballer. He was born in Dalian, China but represents Hong Kong in international competition. He was a member of the Hong Kong East Asian Games football team in 2009 who won the East Asian Games gold medal.
He wears number 8 for China U-19, Citizen, Hong Kong, Hong Kong U-23, South China and Pegasus. Because of this, Hong Kong football fans commonly use Xu 8 as a nickname for him.
Early life
Xu Deshuai was born on in Dalian, China. He is the only child in his family. His mother was primary school teacher but Xu Deshuai hates study. Thus, he left school after secondary education in Dalian to switched to Dalian Shide's youth academy under his mother's oppositional idea. His mother abandoned interference after the school teacher had told her that Deshuai has potential in football, so her mother support his football career very much after that.
Club career
Dalian Shide
Xu Deshuai began his football career at Dalian with Dalian Shide's youth academy. His potential was quickly identified by First team in 2004. For Xu Deshuai's first senior season in China, he was only named in the substitutes list for two matches and made no appearances. The two games he was listed on the substitutes list were in November 2004; the match against Shanghai Shenhua on 11 November, and against Tianjin Teda on 24 November. He was sent to the field in the match, which held on 11 November, on the 91st-minute. He came off the bench at the last moment of the game so the report did not show that.
Since Dalian Shide and Citizen organised a project, Dalian Shide sent some youth players to Citizen. In 2005, Xu Deshuai was sent to Hong Kong, with other teammates such as Chao Pengfei and Ju Yingzhi.
He was called up by Dalian Shide U19 for the 2006 China U19 Champions Cup, and the team won the championship. After the tournament, he returned to Hong Kong side Citizen again with Wang Xuanhong.
Citizen
Xu Deshuai made his debut in Hong Kong in the 2005–06 season. His first domestic league match was on 15 October against Kitchee. He came on in the 71st-minute as a substitute for So Yiu Man in a 3–0 away defeat. He expressed disappointment about always being used as a substitute. He went back to Dalian over the summer where he made five appearances.
In the 2007–08 season, Xu Deshuai established himself as a regular first team player, making 15 appearances in 18 league matches. He helped Citizen to win the 2007–08 Hong Kong FA Cup; during which he appeared in every game. This was the first top-level domestic cup won by Citizen since the club's founding in 1947. This earned him an official transfer to Citizen in summer 2008.
Xu Deshuai was appointed as one of the vice-captains of Citizen in 2008. He started two matches as captain in the 2008–09 season. Xu Deshuai scored both his first and second senior career goal in the match against Hong Kong Sheffield United on 2 May 2009. He finished the season with 7 goals in 23 matches. He was named 2009 Hong Kong Top Footballers of the Year.
Despite many transfer rumours regarding Xu Deshuai in winter 2009, Citizen football department director Pui Ho Wang said that Xu Deshuai is a "not-for-sale item" at the club.
In a Senior Shield match on Boxing Day in 2009, Xu Deshuai and Fung Kai Hong verbally abused the referee Gary Wong Po On after a controversial decision. He was subsequently banned for four club matches from 12 January 2010. Xu Deshuai returned in the league match against Sun Hei on 12 March 2010, coming on as a substitute at the 64th-minute for Citizen teammate Wong Yiu Fu and scored a goal during second half injury time.
Xu Deshuai named Hong Kong Top Footballers of the Year again after 2009–10 season. In the ceremony, chairman of South China Steven Lo said Xu Deshuai became a member of his team in the 2010–11 season.
South China
2010–11
Xu Deshuai signed with South China on 1 June 2010 since he believes it is suitable time for him to start a new career in a big club liked South China at 22 years of age. He want to get more honours in South China and he takes the AFC Cup as his first target in club. His first official match for South China was a league match on 4 September 2010. Xu Deshuai was the starting player in the game as South China inflicted a 2–0 defeat over his former club Citizen.
The league match against Sun Hei on 18 September 2010 is the 100th official match of Xu Deshuai's career. In the match, he took a corner kick which was converted into the first goal by Chan Siu Ki. In the end, South China defeated Sun Hei by 2–1 and moved to the top of league table.