| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Long Tan | ||
| Date of birth | April 1, 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Dalian, Liaoning, China | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | ||
| Number | 23 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2006 | Shanghai United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2007–2008 | Pudong Zobon | ? | (3) |
| 2009 | Atlanta Blackhawks | 12 | (7) |
| 2010 | FC Tampa Bay | 25 | (3) |
| 2011– | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 13 | (1) |
| 2011 | → Whitecaps Residency (loan) | 6 | (5) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 26, 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Long Tan (simplified Chinese: 谭龙; traditional Chinese: 譚龍; pinyin: Tán Lóng; born April 1, 1988 in Dalian, Liaoning) is a Chinese footballer currently playing for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.
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Tan has been playing soccer since he was six. Between 1994 and 2004, he studied academics and played soccer at Zhong Shan school in his hometown, Dalian, before moving to Shanghai to further his career. He subsequently played for Shanghai United and Pudong Zobon in China League One. He made his senior debut (and scored his first professional goal) on April 29, 2007, in a 2-1 home defeat to Beijing Institute of Technology.[1]
Tan relocated to the United States in late 2008, and played for the Atlanta Blackhawks in the USL Premier Development League in 2009, scoring 7 goals in 12 appearances.[2]
He attended open tryouts for MLS’s Philadelphia Union, but did not get called back after the first round of workouts, and eventually signed with FC Tampa Bay of the new USSF Division 2 Professional League in January, 2010.[3]
Tan's rights were traded to Vancouver Whitecaps FC as part of the deal taking Jonny Steele and Ricardo Sánchez to Tampa Bay on July 20, 2010. He went on trial with the club in November 2010 in view of signing with the club following their move up to Major League Soccer.[4] Tan signed with Vancouver on March 11, 2011.[5]
He made his MLS debut on March 26, 2011 in a 1–0 loss to Philadelphia Union, and in doing so became the first Chinese-born player to play for an MLS club. On October 12, 2011 Tan become the first Chinese-born player to score in the MLS.[6]
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