Chinese soccer player Shao Jiayi has been crowned as a Bundesliga Legend, marking the only Chinese player of the first batch of nine selected ex-professionals who served at the German Football League.

Shao, 37, was named “most successful Chinese player in Bundesliga history,” according to the official website. He played nine years in total in Bundesliga, making 168 appearances and scoring 24 goals in the three clubs he served. He started playing with TSV 1860 Munich in 2002 and then moved to FC Energie Cottbus. He was with MSV Duisburg when he was transferred back to Beijing Guoan in 2012.

Together with the other eight legends, Shao would become brand ambassadors for Bundesliga in their respective markets, including China, the United States, Mexico, Ghana, Oceania, South Korea, and Brazil. Apart from Shao, Jorg Albertz would also become a brand ambassador for China, as the retired German soccer player “enjoyed substantial personal success in China where he was named as China’s Player of the Year in 2003 during his time at Shanghai Shenhua.”

Launched on August 7, the “Bundesliga Legends Network” is part of an internationalization effort of the league following the “Bundesliga Legends Tours.” The legendary ambassadors would later make appearances at fan and media events or as coaches at soccer camps to help boost the popularity of the German soccer league globally.

“We believe that the hand-picked legends are ideally suited for being brand ambassadors, as their outstanding achievements in Bundesliga have attracted strong interest in the league back in their own countries, and they have great credibility as highly respected sports figures,” said Robert Klein, Chief Commercial Officer of Bundesliga International GmbH.