Top 10 best Hong Kong football players: Who are Lee Wai Tong and Wu Kwok Hung?

Football in Hong Kong, while not as famous as in other parts of Asia, has a long history dating back to the early 20th century. Today, SPBO Live Scores highlights the 10 best Hong Kong football players.

Top 10 best Hong Kong football players

The greatest player in the history of Hong Kong football is widely considered to be Lee Wai Tong, who was active in the 1920s and 1930s. According to reports, he scored more than 1,000 goals during his career. Nicknamed the “King of Football,” he is regarded as the first major football star in Asia. Lee Wai Tong represented China at the 1936 Olympic Games and was reportedly invited to play in Europe, but he declined those offers.

Second on the list is Yapp Hung Fai, a goalkeeper for Eastern and captain of the Hong Kong national team. He is often described as the biggest icon of modern Hong Kong football and the greatest goalkeeper in the territory’s history. Yapp holds the record for the most international appearances, with 112 caps over a 15-year career.

Alongside Yapp Hung Fai is Chan Siu Ki, one of the greatest strikers in Hong Kong football history. He is the national team’s all-time top scorer with 37 goals over 13 years. Known for his strong physique, ability to play independently, hold-up play, and clinical finishing, Chan Siu Ki became a defining striker of his era. He also played in the Chinese Super League, which was rare for Hong Kong players at the time.

Fourth on the list is Ku Kam Fai, a midfielder who dominated Hong Kong football during his time with South China. He was not known for speed or physical strength, but for his technical ability and high football intelligence, which were uncommon traits in Hong Kong football at the time. Ku Kam Fai was part of the famous “5.19” match, when Hong Kong defeated China 2–1 in the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on 19 May 1985. He also scored the winning goal in that historic match.

Top 10 best Hong Kong football players of all time

1. Lee Wai Tong 

2. Yapp Hung Fai

3. Chan Siu Ki

4. Ku Kam Fai

5. Cheung Chi Doy

6. Lee Hong Lim

7. Lo Kwan Yee

8. Cheng Siu Wai

9. Wu Kwok Hung

10. Huang Yang

Top 10 players with the most Footballer of the Year awards

In earlier eras, players were harder to recognize due to the lack of media coverage. As the league gained more attention, awards were introduced to honor outstanding performances.

The Hong Kong Footballer of the Year award was first presented in 1978. After nearly 50 years, the player with the most wins is Wu Kwok Hung, who won the award four consecutive times from 1979 to 1982. Playing mainly as an attacking midfielder, Wu is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Hong Kong football history, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s.

In addition to his four Footballer of the Year awards, Wu Kwok Hung dominated domestic football with Seiko. He won nine league titles, six cup competitions, nine Senior Challenge Shields, and was twice the league’s top scorer in the 1972/73 and 1973/74 seasons with 29 goals. He is considered one of the most successful footballers in Hong Kong history.

Second on the list is Lee Kin Wo, who won the award three times in the 1990s. Following Wu Kwok Hung’s era, Lee Kin Wo emerged as the leading striker in Hong Kong football. Known for his sharp finishing and intelligent movement, he was a lethal presence in the penalty area. He inspired generations of Hong Kong forwards and is regarded as one of the greatest attacking icons of the national team.

In addition, five other players have won the Footballer of the Year award more than once: Leung Sui Wing, Chan Fat Chi, Leslie Santos, Au Wai Lun, and Li Haiqiang. These players were key figures during the 1980s and 1990s, a period widely seen as the peak of Hong Kong football development.

Top 10 players with the most Footballer of the Year awards in Hong Kong

1. Wu Kwok Hung - 4 awards

2. Lee Kin Wo - 3 awards

3. Leung Sui Wing - 2 awards

4. Chan Fat Chi - 2 awards

5. Leslie Santos - 2 awards

6. Au Wai Lun - 2 awards

7. Li Haiqiang - 2 awards

8. Leung Nang Yan - 1 award

9. Chan Wan Ngok - 1 award

10. Lau Wing Yip - 1 award

In this article, spbolivescore.net named the Top 10 best Hong Kong football players of all time, along with the list of players who have won the Footballer of the Year award most frequently. For more exciting football facts, watch here.