Shen Menglu

Chinese footballer (born 2002)
Shen Menglu
沈梦露
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-05-10) 10 May 2002 (age 21)
Place of birth Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
Height 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Midfielder, Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Celtic
Number 28
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Jiangsu Suning 5 (0)
2021 Sporting CP B 1 (3)
2021 Sporting CP 2 (0)
2022 Atlético Ouriense 15 (0)
2022– Celtic[a] 41 (7)
International career‡
2019–2020 China U19 5 (0)
2023– China 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:38, 6 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:38, 6 December 2023 (UTC)

Shen Menglu (Chinese: 沈梦露; born 10 May 2002) is a Chinese professional footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Scottish Women's Premier League club Celtic and the China national team

Club career

Having represented Jiangsu Suning in her native China, Shen moved to Portugal in July 2021, joining Campeonato Nacional Feminino side Sporting CP.[1] Though she made her debut for Sporting, and became the first Chinese woman to play in the top flight of Portuguese football, she found her opportunities limited, and terminated her contract after only half a year.[2] She joined fellow Campeonato Nacional Feminino side Atlético Ouriense in January 2022, but struggled to establish herself in her natural role, finding herself playing left-back, a far-cry from her usual forward position.[3]

In July 2022, she moved to Scotland, signing with Scottish Women's Premier League side Celtic, joining compatriot Shen Mengyu.[4] In only her first league start for the club, she scored her first goal for the club - the third in a 6–0 win against Hamilton Academical.[5] Her second goal of the season came on 30 October in another SWPL 1 game against Glasgow City; having come on as a second-half substitute for Amy Gallacher, Shen's cross from the left wing inadvertently beat Glasgow City's goalkeeper Lee Gibson after a miscommunication between the goalkeeper and defender Claire Walsh.[6]

She scored a similar goal in Celtic's 5–1 away win against Hearts in the Scottish Women's Cup on 19 March 2023, again scoring with a misplaced cross from the left wing.[7] The same month, she was nominated for the SWPL 1 player of the month, but lost out to Rangers' Brogan Hay.[8]

International career

Shen has represented China at under-19 level, being called up to the squad despite being a year younger than her teammates. She credits teammate and friend Shen Mengyu with helping her adapt, as Mengyu was captain of the side.[9]

Shen had been called up to the China women's national football team in 2023, but had to withdraw due to injury.[10] In July 2023, Chinese women's manager Shui Qingxia came under fire from fans and media in China for failing to call up Shen, as well as Zhao Yujie, who were both deemed to have deserved call-ups for their respective club performances.[11][12] Both had received an initial call-up to a training camp in Qingdao, but were not included in the final squad ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[13]

She eventually made her senior national team debut on 29 October 2023 as a substitute in a 3–0 win against Thailand in the 2024 Olympic qualifying tournament.[14]

Personal life

In July 2023, Shen returned to her hometown of Huai'an in the Jiangsu Province of China to partake in a charity event, where she gave local children signed photos and jerseys.[15]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 26 November 2023.[16]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Jiangsu Suning 2020 CWSL 5 0 — — — 5 0
Sporting CP B 2021–22 Campeonato Promoção 1 3 0 0 — — 1 3
Sporting CP 2021–22 Campeonato Nacional 2 0 0 0 — — 2 0
Atlético Ouriense 2021–22 Campeonato Nacional 15 0 0 0 — — 15 0
Celtic 2022–23[a] SWPL 27 4 2[b] 1 2 0 — 31 5
2023–24 SWPL 14 3 1 0 0 0 2[c] 0 17 3
Total 41 7 3 1 2 0 2 0 48 8
Career total 64 10 3 1 2 0 2 0 71 11
  1. ^ a b Soccerway do not credit Shen with a goal in Celtic's match against Hamilton Academical on 18 September 2022, instead incorrectly crediting teammate Shen Mengyu with the goal.[17]
  2. ^ Appearances in the Scottish Women's Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Women's Champions League qualification

International

As of match played 5 December 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
China 2023 3 0
Total 3 0

References

  1. ^ "中国球员沈梦露加盟苏超凯尔特人女足" [Chinese player Shen Menglu joins Scottish Premier League Celtic Women's Football Team]. jfdaily.com (in Chinese). 1 August 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  2. ^ "沈梦露亲自官宣和沈梦雨的关系，球迷：真是太意外，很多人都错了" [Shen Menglu personally announced her relationship with Shen Mengyu. Fans: It’s so unexpected. Many people were wrong.]. sohu.com (in Chinese). 3 September 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  3. ^ "中国姐妹花绽放苏格兰 沈梦雨沈梦露傻傻分不清?" [China's sister flowers bloom in Scotland Shen Mengyu Shen Menglu stupidly confused?]. sports.sina.cn (in Chinese). 1 August 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  4. ^ "中国女足真棒！20岁沈梦露加盟苏超 两名国脚成队友 中国足球有希望" [The Chinese women’s football team is awesome! 20-year-old Shen Menglu joins the Scottish Premier League and two international players become teammates. There is hope for Chinese football.]. new.qq.com (in Chinese). 31 July 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  5. ^ "中国女足"留洋军团"捷报频传，沈梦露打入苏超首球" [The Chinese women’s football team’s “residency abroad” has received good news frequently, Shen Menglu scored the first goal in the Scottish Premiership]. m.bjnews.com.cn (in Chinese). 19 September 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  6. ^ "赛季第二球！沈梦露扣过防守球员轰入一脚世界波" [Second goal of the season! Shen Menglu dunked over the defensive player and launched a kick into the world]. 3g.k.sohu.com (in Chinese). 31 October 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  7. ^ "沈梦露世界波破门 凯尔特人女足客场5-1大胜哈茨" [Shen Menglu scored a world-class goal as Celtic Women beat Hearts 5-1 away from home]. yangtse.com (in Chinese). 20 March 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  8. ^ Conroy, Alison (13 April 2023). "Brogan Hay: Rangers forward named SWPL player of month for March". skysports.com. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  9. ^ "沈梦露：在凯尔特人整条边都是我的；继续追逐进国家队的梦想" [Shen Menglu: The whole side of the Celtics is mine; continue to chase the dream of entering the national team]. m.dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). 13 February 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  10. ^ "沈梦雨沈梦露与体坛朋友的访谈②:我们想去世界杯！" [Shen Mengyu Shen Menglu's interview with sports friends ②: We want to go to the World Cup!]. resource.ttplus.cn (in Chinese). 3 July 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  11. ^ "又一个唐佳丽？沈梦露落选女足世界杯：在凯尔特人独造6球！" [Tang Jiali? Shen Menglu failed to qualify for the Women's World Cup: scored 6 goals for Celtic!]. sohu.com (in Chinese). 3 July 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  12. ^ "沈梦露跟随凯尔特人女足在欧洲训练，笑逐颜开心情大好！" [Shen Menglu is training in Europe with the Celtic women's football team, smiling and in a good mood!]. 163.com (in Chinese). 4 August 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  13. ^ "足球报：中国女足最快4日公布世界杯名单 沈梦露、赵瑜洁无缘" [Football News: The Chinese women's football team will announce the World Cup roster as soon as the 4th. Shen Menglu and Zhao Yujie will not be able to participate.]. ppsport.com (in Chinese). 3 July 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Match Report of Thailand vs China PR - 2023-10-29 - AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  15. ^ "女足球员沈梦露在家乡淮安做慈善" [Female football player Shen Menglu does charity in her hometown of Huai'an]. wm.jschina.com.cn (in Chinese). 26 July 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  16. ^ Shen Menglu at Soccerway
  17. ^ Squad Goals - Celtic FC Women 6-0 Hamilton Accies - Another convincing win for Ghirls in the SWPL! on YouTube
  • v
  • t
  • e
Celtic F.C. Women – current squad