Ai Zhibo () (born 29 October 1982) is a retired Chinese football player who played as a defender.
Club career Ai Zhibo played for Wuhan Hongjinlong for several seasons after graduating from their youth system in the 2001 league season. During his time at Wuhan he was often used as a squad player within the team, however despite this he was able to play his part in the team's promotion in winning the second-tier league title in 2004. The following season would see him play his part in helping the team establish themselves within the Chinese Super League by aiding them to a fifth-place finish. After several seasons within the top tier Wuhan had a difficult 2008 season which saw them relegated and then controversially dissolved as a football club.
Without a football club, Ai Zhibo would be allowed to leave for Changchun Yatai at the beginning of the 2009 Chinese Super League season. He would go on to make his club debut on March 28, 2009, against Jiangsu Sainty F.C. in a 1–0 victory coming on as a late substitute. Once again Ai Zhibo was used as a squad player within the team and only made four appearances within his debut season. Things at Changchun did not improve the following season especially with the introduction of Shen Xiangfu coming in as manager who dropped him from the first team. Ai Zhibo would have to wait during the 2010 summer transfer before another top-tier side Jiangsu Sainty took him on loan and reunited him with his former manager at Wuhan, Pei Encai.
On 15 July 2014, Ai transferred to China League One side Wuhan Zall, a team formed as a Phoenix club to Wuhan Hongjinlong.舜天后卫转会中甲 艾志波加盟卓尔身披4号战袍 at sohu.com 2014-07-15 Retrieved 2014-07-16 While Ai joined the club halfway through the season he quickly established himself as a vital member of the team and saw the club miss out on promotion to the Chinese Super League on goal difference. After several seasons with the club Ai was finally able to win promotion with the club when Wuhan Zall won to the 2018 China League One division.
Career statistics Statistics accurate as of match played 31 December 2020.艾志波 at sodasoccer Retrieved 2018-11-03 + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsWuhan Hongjinlong2001Jia B League00 0---00200200 0---0020033000---302004China League One4010---502005Chinese Super League1000010--11020064000---402007130----1302008130----130Total47010100000490Changchun Yatai2009Chinese Super League41----41201000--10-10Total410000100051Jiangsu Sainty (loan)2010Chinese Super League80----80Jiangsu Sainty20117000---70201218000---180201312020-201017020142000---20Total39020002010440Wuhan Zall2014China League One15400---154201520000---200201618200---182201721100---211201824311---2542019Chinese Super League11010---12020202030--1060Total111105100001011711 Career total209118110302022312
Honours Club Wuhan Hongjinlong China League One: 2004
Jiangsu Sainty Chinese FA Super Cup: 2013
Wuhan Zall China League One: 2018
References
External links Player profile at Sina.com Player stats at Sohu.com