# Liu Tao (footballer)

Liu Tao (Chinese: 刘涛; pinyin: Liú Tāo; born 22 January 1985) is a Chinese football player who currently plays for Chengdu Better City.

## Club career

Liu started his professional football career in 2006 when he was promoted into China League One side Jiangsu Sainty first team. He would eventually make his league debut for Jiangsu on 24 October 2009 in a game against Shandong Luneng Taishan. In March 2011, he made a free transfer to Tianjin Songjiang and signed a 2-year-contract with the club. Liu joined Guangdong Sunray Cave along with his teammate Wang Qiang in January 2013.
On 16 February 2015, Liu transferred to China League Two side Dalian Transcendence. On 23 January 2017, Liu moved to League Two side Shenzhen Ledman. In March 2018, Liu transferred to his hometown club Suzhou Dongwu in the China League Two. On 27 February 2019, Liu transferred to League Two newcomer Chengdu Better City. He would go on to win promotion with the club as they came runners-up at the end of the 2019 China League Two season. He would be a vital part of the team as the club gained promotion to the top tier at the end of the 2021 league campaign.

## Personal life

Liu married former China women's national football team midfielder Song Xiaoli on 5 November 2011.

## Career statistics

Statistics accurate as of match played 8 January 2023.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Jiangsu Sainty | 2006 | China League One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 |
| Jiangsu Sainty | 2007 | China League One | 22 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 22 | 0 |
| Jiangsu Sainty | 2008 | China League One | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 |
| Jiangsu Sainty | 2009 | Chinese Super League | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 |
| Jiangsu Sainty | 2010 | Chinese Super League | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 |
| Jiangsu Sainty | Total | Total | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| Tianjin Songjiang | 2011 | China League One | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 17 | 4 |
| Tianjin Songjiang | 2012 | China League One | 27 | 3 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 28 | 3 |
| Tianjin Songjiang | Total | Total | 44 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 7 |
| Guangdong Sunray Cave | 2013 | China League One | 28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 30 | 2 |
| Guangdong Sunray Cave | 2014 | China League One | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 24 | 1 |
| Guangdong Sunray Cave | Total | Total | 51 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 3 |
| Dalian Transcendence | 2015 | China League Two | 19 | 4 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 22 | 5 |
| Dalian Transcendence | 2016 | China League One | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 17 | 1 |
| Dalian Transcendence | Total | Total | 36 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 6 |
| Shenzhen Ledman | 2017 | China League Two | 22 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 24 | 2 |
| Suzhou Dongwu | 2018 | China League Two | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 23 | 1 |
| Chengdu Better City | 2019 | China League Two | 26 | 3 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 27 | 4 |
| Chengdu Better City | 2020 | China League One | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 12 | 1 |
| Chengdu Better City | 2021 | China League One | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 35 | 1 |
| Chengdu Better City | 2022 | Chinese Super League | 32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 32 | 2 |
| Chengdu Better City | Total | Total | 103 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 106 | 8 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 302 | 25 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 316 | 27 |
* ↑ Appearance(s) in CSL Relegation play-offs

## Honours
### Club

Jiangsu Sainty
* China League One: 2008