Football: Chinese teenager Xie Chujun earns first national call-up

by Oliver Trust and Zhao Jiantong

BERLIN, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- A first call-up to China's U-19 national team marks a major milestone for 18-year-old midfielder Xie Chujun, who plays for VfB Stuttgart's under-19 side.

"I am deeply honored," Xie, who goes by the English name Alexander, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

The young midfielder's rise has been steady since joining the German U-19 record champions last year. His debut for China in two friendlies against Myanmar in September, where he played 70 and 50 minutes respectively, has only fueled his ambition to earn a professional contract with Stuttgart and represent China at senior level.

"I feel more connected to my targets now, and my ultimate aim is to represent China on a prominent international stage like the Asian Cup or World Cup," he said.

Born in Australia, Xie moved to Germany with his parents seven years ago to pursue football, but he holds only Chinese nationality. "Despite my life overseas, my family comes from China. We go there regularly on vacation," he said.

Pulling on China's shirt for the first time, Xie admitted, was "thrilling." He added, "I had to adapt to a different style, a more technical and tactical football. Most of the players knew each other already; only a player from Serbia and I came from outside."

His link-up play with fellow Chinese youngster Jiang Yixiang drew praise from coaches and fans alike. Xie says his multicultural background has been key to his progress. "It helped me a lot. I speak German, English and Chinese, and I've played in different countries, which helps me adapt quickly."

He added that he hopes more young Chinese players will seek opportunities abroad. "I've seen many talented players back home. If more of them study and train overseas, Chinese football will grow faster," he said.

At Stuttgart, Xie follows a dual system that balances academics and sport. "Our club works closely with a nearby school. We have classes in the morning and train in the afternoon," he explained. "This morning I had classes, then lunch, and a few more lessons before training again."

Everything is close by: the school, club facilities, and the 60,000-seat MHP Arena. "From our gym, we can see the first team training. Watching them makes me want to be there someday," Xie said.

According to his coaches, Xie has made major strides after a challenging start last year, improving his stamina and strength through hard work. Once an attacking midfielder, he has evolved into Stuttgart's under-19 midfield conductor.

"I've been working on strength and defending for months, and now I feel much stronger," he said with a smile. ■