Zhang Mengjin

Fan Zhiyi, born in 1970, is a Chinese footballer and coach. His professional career was mainly concentrated from the late 1980s to the mid-2000s; he played for several Chinese football clubs and represented the China national football team in international matches. Fan Zhiyi was known for his solid defensive skills and excellent performances, and he won multiple domestic honors and individual awards.

On April 21, 2015, Fan Zhiyi appeared on a variety show with his parents and family, showing a side of his family life. At that time, he was 46 years old. In addition, one of his girlfriends was Zhang Mengjin, a dancer with the Shanghai Ballet; the two met at a gathering in 2011. Zhang Mengjin has performed in multiple ballets and has a professional background in dance performance.

On June 9, 2016, Fan Zhiyi and Zhang Mengjin held their wedding by the shore of Lake Tai. This wedding marked the couple’s official entry into married life. Shortly after the marriage, on the morning of November 21, 2016, Fan Zhiyi welcomed a baby daughter with his wife Zhang Mengjin. This was their first child together and Fan Zhiyi’s second daughter—he already had an 18-year-old daughter—bringing his total number of daughters to two.

Zhang Mengjin grew up in Shanghai and worked as a ballet dancer, having been a member of the Shanghai Ballet. She has performed in numerous ballet productions. Regarding personal interests, Zhang Mengjin said she is not interested in football and initially knew nothing about Fan Zhiyi’s identity. In an interview, she mentioned that what she admires most about Fan Zhiyi is his personal charisma, which she regarded as the main reason he won her over.

Both Fan Zhiyi’s family life and his professional career have drawn media attention multiple times, though the professional information is mainly focused on his football activities and family events.