In Shanghai, Zhang Jinhai started to play football in 1932 for Qinghua, Tung Hwa and other local teams. In 1937, he wore the colours of the Tianjin Beining Sports Club on a tour to Japan. Later that year, Zhang went to Hong Kong with the Jinde team of Shanghai’s Zhonghua Book Company. There, he joined successively Eastern Sports Club, Sing Tao, South China Athletic Association, Kwong Wah and other top league teams. For the 1948 London Olympics, he was selected to represent the Republic of China as inside forward but was also capable of taking other positions. After retiring, Zhang coached the Sing Tao and Kwong Wah teams. In 1973, he committed suicide by hanging himself, suspected of speculating in stocks due to a stock market crash. All of his four sons also have become renowned football players.
People's Republic of China