Chan Wai Ho

Chan Wai Ho (陳偉豪; born 24 April 1982) is a former Hong Kong professional footballer who currently plays as a centre back for Hong Kong First Division club Eastern District.

The highest local transfer fee record was kept by Tam Ah Fook when he moved to Ernest Borel from Happy Valley by HK$140,000 in 1992.

The highest overall transfer fee was originally kept by Cheng Siu Chung when he moved from LD Alajuelense in Costa Rica to South China in the 1994–95 season for a fee of US$30,000 (about HK$234,000).

In the 1999–2000 season, Yee Hope chairman Joe Chan invited Chan to join his team.

Chan started his professional career in this season.

His number of appearances did not increase after he joined the team, but Arie van der Zouwen thought Chan was one of the best centre back in Hong Kong and selected him for Hong Kong.

Chan wore the number 15 in South China to commemorate his former Rangers teammate Cheung Yiu Lun, who died in a traffic accident in October 2003.

He was not able to wear the number 15 at Rangers because the number was retired after Cheung's death.

In March 2004, Chan was suspended for 12 games after fighting along with four other Rangers players against Nan Shing Property FC players in a league match in Dongguan on 7 March 2004.

The match was suspended and never completed.

In 2006, it was rumoured that Chan had had a trial with English Premiership Club Reading and would play at the Madejski Stadium in the English Premiership.

His registration was just in time for him to represent the team to compete in the Hong Kong FA Cup 2006-07.

Chan was described by South China convenor Steven Lo to be the best centre back in Hong Kong.

In 2007, it was rumoured that he would join Birmingham City after Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung became the chairman and executive director of the club.

Chan's transfer fee to South China from Rangers was HK$400,000, which broke the record of the highest local transfer fee and highest transfer fee in Hong Kong First Division.

On 19 April 2007, it was revealed on the HKFA webpage that Chan transferred to South China from Rangers.

He made his debut for South China on 20 April 2007 in the Hong Kong FA Cup First Round match against Tai Po.

But there was rumour in the media that the record has been broken by Chan Siu Ki's 2008 transfer from Kitchee to South China, which cost the Caroliners HK$800,000.

The actual fee has not been disclosed.

Chan was a member of the East Asian Games gold medal-winning Hong Kong U-23 squad in 2009.

He was also the captain of the Hong Kong senior team from 2010 to 2017.

He is sometimes referred to as Tai Ho (Traditional Chinese: 大豪) as a nickname for him and to distinguish him from fellow former Hong Kong international, Lee Chi Ho.

Chan lived in Lok Wah Estate, Ngau Tau Kok when he was young and he graduated from Maryknoll Vocational Evening Secondary School.

He moved to the player hostel of Rangers in Boundary Street when he was a vocational apprenticeship of Rangers.

His father decided that he would join Rangers to be a vocational apprentice when Chan was 16 years old.

He stayed at Rangers for some months on trial for a professional contract.

However, Rangers only gave him a contract after several twists and turns.

Eventually, he appeared for the first team a few times in this season.

Chan scored the opening goal in the 2010-11 Hong Kong FA Cup final against Tai Po.

Following South China's decision to self-relegate, Chan terminated his contract with the club.

Chan re-joined South China in the January 2011 transfer window.

He had just completed coaching for the Fourway Rangers.

He signed a one-and-a-half-year contract.

He was announced as a player and captain of the rebranded Dreams FC on 26 July 2017.

On 8 June 2018, Chan confirmed that he had renewed his contract for the following season.

On 26 May 2019, Chan accepted another renewal of his contract.

However as a result of Dreams FC's decision to self-relegate, Chan was left without work.

On 17 August 2019, he announced his decision to retire from professional football.

On 2 September 2019, Chan changed his mind and joined Pegasus to be a player and an assistant coach.

Due to the financial strain caused by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, Pegasus asked its players to either accept a pay cut or agree to a mutual termination.