Zhang Kangyang(Chinese:Trương khang dương;born 21 December 1991), known asSteven Zhang,is a Chinese businessman and former chairman of ItalianfootballclubInter Milan.[3]
Zhang Kangyang | |
|---|---|
 Zhang in 2023 | |
| Chairman of Inter Milan | |
| In office 2018–2024 | |
| Preceded by | Erick Thohir |
| Succeeded by | Giuseppe Marotta |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Trương khang dương 21 December 1991[1] Nanjing, Jiangsu,China |
| Parent |
|
| Alma mater | Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania[2] |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Former chairman ofInter Milan[2] |
| Zhang Kangyang | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | Trương khang dương | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | Trương khang dương | ||||||
| |||||||
Biography
editBorn inNanjing,Zhang is the son of Chinese billionaireZhang Jindong,founder and chairman of theSuning Holdings Group.He was featured in Fortune China magazine's "40 Under 40" list.[4]
As the President of Suning International, Steven Zhang has the ultimate responsibility for spearheading the business's international expansion and future ambitions. Suning International is part of Suning Holdings Group – the commercial giant ranked second among the top 500 non-state-owned enterprises in China andlist of largest private non-governmental companies by revenuewith annual revenues of RMB 665.3 billion (approximately US$103 billion).[5]
They are also the owners ofSuning,a smart retail subsidiary currently ranked China's most valuable retail brand and listed on theFortune Global 500List of the world's largest companies for three successive years, with a total brand value of RMB 269.198 billion and an operating income in over S$39 billion.[6]
Football
editInter Milan
editIn October 2018, Steven Zhang became the youngest everchairmanofInter Milan(or simply Inter).[7]Having been instrumental inSuning Holdings Group's acquisition of Inter in 2016, he then held a position on the Board and took over the management of operations for the club.[8]
In 2019, Inter's enterprise value rose over 41% to EUR 692 million, the highest growth of any club in Europe. Inter is also ranked in the Top 10 for Club Stadia (Venue Performance).[9]
In February 2020, Inter Milan suedMajor League Soccer'sInter Miamifortrademarkinfringement, stating that the term "Inter" is synonymous with its club and no one else.[10]As of 2022[update],the case ended in Inter Miami’s favour.[11]
In April 2020, Zhang heavily criticized Paolo Dal Pino on Instagram, the president of Serie A, over his handling of the COVID-19 outbreak among footballers and clubs.[12]Unpopular with multiple Serie A club owners, and not just Inter for general incompetence, Dal Pino would eventually resign in February 2022, after two years in charge.[13]
In July 2022, media reported that the Hong Kong High Court handed down its summary judgement against Zhang for unpaid (USD)$225m debt.[14]
Silverware successes
editDuring the2019–20 season,Inter finished second in the league and finished as runners-up in the final of the2019–20 UEFA Europa League– the club's best performance in Europe since their2009–10 UEFA Champions Leaguevictory.
Inter then won the2020–21 Serie Awith four rounds to spare, the nineteenth championship in the history of the club and eleven years after the last triumph in2009–2010.Zhang became the first foreign owner to win theScudettoinItaly,and the first Chinese owner to win a domestic top-division European club championship.[15]
On 12 January 2022,Inter Milanwon theItalian Super Cup,the second trophy of Zhang's chairmanship.[16][17]On 11 May,Inter Milanwon theCoppa Italia,the third trophy under his management.[18]
During the 2022-23 season, Inter won the second consecutiveItalian Super Cup,on theKing Fahd International StadiuminRiyadh,Saudi Arabia,it was the fourth trophy during Zhang's tenure as chairman. On 24 May 2023, Inter won the second consecutiveCoppa Italiaby beatingFiorentinain the final.
On 10 June, at theAtatürk Olympic StadiuminIstanbul,Inter played the sixthEuropean Cup/Champions Leaguefinal in their history, after victories in the previous ones in1964,1965and2010and defeats in those of1967and1972.In the unprecedented match against the English teamManchester City F.C.(the two sides never faced each other before in UEFA competitions), the Nerazzurri were narrowly beaten by a goal fromRodri,thus missing the opportunity to win for the fourth time in the history of the top continental competition. This was the second European final since Zhang has been president of Inter.[19]
On 22 January 2024, Inter won the eighthSupercoppa Italiana,played inRiyadh,Saudi Arabia,at theKSU Stadium,beatingLazioin the semi-final 3 to 0 andNapoli1 to 0 in the 2023 Supercoppa Italiana final.Zhang became the third most successful Inter president in the team's history, behindAngelo MorattiandMassimo Moratti,and ahead ofErnesto PellegriniandIvanoe Fraizzoli,[20][21]with 6 trophies won out of eight finals played.[22]
Member of the European Club Association
editSince March 2018 Steven Zhang has been on theUEFAClub Competitions Committee and is the only member from Asia. From September 2019, he was a member of theEuropean Club Association(ECA) Executive Board.[23]the body established in 2008 and recognised by UEFA andFIFA,representing the interests of professional association football clubs in Europe. He is the first Chinese representative among 24 members of the Board.[24]Zhang resigned from it in April 2021.[25]
References
edit- ^Quốc mễ quan tuyên trương khang dương đảm nhiệm chủ tịch 26 tuổi thành lịch sử tuổi trẻ nhất chủ tịch.Sina Tech(in Chinese (China)). 26 October 2018.Retrieved30 October2018.
- ^ab"STEVEN ZHANG NAMED PRESIDENT OF FC INTERNAZIONALE MILANO S.P.A."(Press release).Inter Milan.26 October 2018.Retrieved30 October2018.
- ^"Inter Milan appoint Zhang as club president".ESPN.26 October 2018.Retrieved29 August2019.
- ^"Soccer: Steven Zhang is new president of Inter - English".ANSA.it.26 October 2018.Retrieved31 December2019.
- ^"Top 10 Chinese private enterprises in 2020".China Daily.14 September 2020.Retrieved9 December2020.
- ^"BRIEF-Suning Opens Milan Office In Euro-Expansion Plans".Reuters.17 April 2018.Retrieved31 December2019.
- ^Fumo, Stefania (27 October 2018). Written at Rome. Yang Yi (ed.)."China's Steven Zhang appointed new Inter president".Beijing.Xinhua News Agency.Archived fromthe originalon 27 October 2018.Retrieved30 October2018.
- ^"China's Suning buying majority stake in Inter Milan for $307 million".Reuters.6 June 2016.Retrieved31 December2019.
- ^"Steven Zhang has been nominated as a Member of the ECA Executive Board".FC Internazionale - Inter Milan.Retrieved31 December2019.
- ^Mendola, Nicholas (11 February 2020)."MLS, Inter Miami lose key argument in Inter Milan lawsuit".ProSoccerTalk | NBC Sports.Retrieved30 June2022.
- ^Winker, David (4 January 2021)."Inter Milan First Round Trademark Win Over Inter Miami Stands".law.
- ^Gaubert, Julie (3 March 2020)."'You are the biggest clown': Inter Milan chief's coronavirus tirade ".euronews.Retrieved30 June2022.
- ^"Serie A president Paolo Dal Pino resigns".SportsPro.2 February 2022.Retrieved30 June2022.
- ^"Zhang's liability for unpaid $225m debt raises questions over Inter Milan's future".Inside World Football.21 July 2022.Retrieved27 September2022.
- ^Mariangela Pira (2 May 2021)."Inter, Suning 1st foreign ownership to win the Scudetto in Italy: what happens now?".sport.sky.it(in Italian).Retrieved13 January2022.
- ^"Steven Zhang:" This is a really special moment for us "".inter.it.13 January 2022.Retrieved13 January2022.
- ^"Inter Milan 2-1 Juventus (AET): Alexis Sanchez hits last-gasp winner in Italian Super Cup".Sky Sports.12 January 2022.Retrieved13 January2022.
- ^ANSA editorial staff (12 May 2022)."Coppa Italia: Zhang 'I am very confident for the championship'"(in Italian).ANSA.Retrieved12 May2022.
- ^"Inter, che peccato! Gioca alla pari col City, ma la Champions è di Guardiola"(in Italian). gazzetta.it. 10 June 2023.Retrieved16 January2024.
- ^"STEVEN ZHANG, 5° TROFEO IN 5 ANNI CON L'INTER! E' IL PRESIDENTE PIÙ TITOLATO DOPO MASSIMO ED ANGELO MORATTI"(in Italian). eurosport.it. 24 May 2023.Retrieved25 May2023.
- ^Andrea Ramazzotti (25 May 2023)."Zhang, altro trofeo. È il 3° presidente più vincente dopo i Moratti:" Un onore, ma della finale non parlo ""(in Italian). gazzetta.it.Retrieved25 May2023.
- ^"NUMBERS FROM THE SUPERCOPPA WIN".inter.it.Retrieved23 January2024.
- ^"OFFICIAL - Inter President Zhang Elected To ECA Board".SempreInter.10 September 2019.Retrieved27 September2022.
- ^"Zhang becomes first Chinese member of ECA board".SportBusiness.11 September 2019.Retrieved31 December2019.
- ^"Inter President Steven Zhang Resigns From European Club Association After Super League Announcement, Italian Media Report".sempreinter.19 April 2021.Retrieved13 January2022.
