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The Chinese-Canadian Xigang (David) Tang, 46, has had an outstanding career in sports management, since graduating from the 3rd edition of the FIFA Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, in 2003. He recalls: “Right after graduating from the FIFA Master, I joined the Asian Football Confederation as an intern, at their headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. After six months, I got a contract as a full-time employee for another year, covering various areas, such as marketing, competitions and football development”.

 Later on, David switched from the federation to the sponsor side. “I joined Nike China in 2005, and I spent the next decade with them on various football roles: sports marketing, brand marketing, sales, and eventually became the General Manager of Football at Nike China, in March 2016”, he remembers. After ten years with the American corporation, he decided to, again, take a new challenge in his career. David left Nike and joined the City Football Group (CFG), as their Managing Director for China.

 CFG owns and operates six professional clubs around the world, in different countries, with their flagship club being Manchester City FC - the current Premier League champions. Since joining the group, David oversaw the establishment of an office in Shanghai, recruited a team of local marketing and sales professionals, and basically started from scratch to develop the group’s brand and business in the Chinese market.

 In this interview, David Tang shares his views about the growth of the football market in China, the increase of the country’s influence in the sport, and his memories from the programme which, according to him, “was one of the most important things I did in my life”.

FMA Quarterly: What are the City Football Group’s main objectives in China?

David Tang: We have three main objectives here in China: First, we need to grow our fan base, primarily for Manchester City. We want to deepen our engagement with the Chinese fans and consumers. We want to be one of the favourite foreign clubs by Chinese football consumers. That’s our core objective. Second, we’d like to contribute to the football development and the growth of the game in China, especially in the areas like coach education, youth training, and elite development. Finally, we want to achieve commercial growth and success in the long run, with sustainable approaches.

FMAQ: What would you say was the biggest achievement of your career so far?

DT: My involvement into the Beijing 2008 Olympics! I enjoyed being part of Nike team serving the Chinese athletes, but also the national pride for that historical moment for our country!  I still remember the night of August 8, 2008, when I was at the Bird’s Nest, attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, with tears in my eyes, and I was so proud of the hard work our team put into it, and also proud of our country’s big step up onto the global stage. 

FMAQ: How do you see the rise of China’s impact on global football? What can we expect in the coming years?

DT: Similar to the world’s economy today, in world football, China is catching up.  It will take years, but it will happen, and we are making positive changes and progress.

FMAQ: Are you still in touch with classmates or other alumni? How important is that network for you?

DT: Yes, all the time. Digitally and in person. The FIFA Master network is one the most valuable assets, workwise and in my personal life.  As business network, it’s priceless, but I also consider them my friends and even as my family.

FMAQ: What are your fondest memories of the FIFA Master?

DT: So many of them. If I have to choose one, I’d say the trip to Rugby School, where the sport of rugby was invented. There, our class bought a rugby ball at their retail shop, and we decided that each classmate would hold on to the ball for a year, and then pass it to another classmate in person. The rugby relay will go on and on, for the rest of our lives. I need to find out who has that ball now, as I am keen to relay it. That binds our family together.

SHORT PROFILE

Tang Xigang (David), Chinese and Canadian

Managing Director at City Football Group China

46 years old, married to Emily, father of Jacky, 11, and Danny, 7 years old.

FIFA Master Class: 2003 

Favourite sport: Football and Table Tennis

Favourite team: Manchester City FC

Favourite sport’s personality: Michael Jordan and Diego Maradona

Favourite sport’s moment: 1986 World Cup Final, Argentina 3 – 2 West Germany.