Chengdu Rongcheng has performed exceptionally well at the start of the 2026 Chinese Super League season, sitting firmly at the top of the table. The team’s solid defensive performances owe much to the consistent displays of former Chinese national team center-back Han Pengfei. Han Pengfei is a highly capable defender, excelling both offensively and defensively, capable of shutting down attacks while also delivering dangerous crosses going forward.
When Ivankovic was in charge of the Chinese national team, he called up Han Pengfei. The saying “opportunities are for those who are prepared” fittingly applies to Han Pengfei. During his appearances for the national team, he delivered steady performances, not inferior to established international defenders like Jiang Shenglong and Zhu Chenjie.
However, after joining Chengdu Rongcheng last season, Han Pengfei’s overall performance was average. It seemed that the tactical system of Chengdu’s former head coach, Seo Jung-won, did not suit Han Pengfei’s technical characteristics, almost turning him into a defensive liability. Fortunately, after head coach John Aloisi took over, he revitalized Han Pengfei, and the defender has been in excellent form this season.
Han Pengfei has become the core of Chengdu Rongcheng’s defense, helping the club reach the top of the CSL standings. He was a target that Choi Kang-hee had long wanted to bring to Shandong Taishan, but Chengdu managed to snatch him away first. Now, Han Pengfei is a key figure in Chengdu’s backline, and his performances have earned him renewed contract talks with the club.
Han Pengfei aims to help Chengdu Rongcheng win the CSL title. He once trialed at Shandong Taishan but was rejected. Now, he has become an undisputed starter at Chengdu and has made multiple appearances for the national team. Fans hope that Han Pengfei can continue his excellent form and work his way back into the national team setup, delivering performances that will not disappoint.