Andy Nägelein

In Europe

Nägelein started his senior career with SC 04 Schwabach in the Oberliga Bayern. He moved to 1. FC Schweinfurt 05 in 2003. After Schweinfurt 05 released him in 2004, Nägelein joined 1. SC Feucht. However, Feucht was relegated at the end of the 2004–05 season, so he joined a new Regionalliga Nord club Kickers Emden. After good performances at Kickers Emden, he moved to SV Wacker Burghausen in the 2. Bundesliga. After half a year, he returned to Kickers Emden. He was one of main players at the club in following 2+1⁄2 seasons. After the 2008–09 season Emden voluntary withdrew from the league because of license restrictions, and Nägelein left the club. In 2009, Nägelein signed for the Cypriot club APEP Pitsilia, it was his first time to play in a top division league. Nägelein attracted the interest of Asian clubs because he was born in Hong Kong. This is the reason to explain why Nägelein left for China before 2010 Chinese Super League started.

In Asia

Nägelein was reportedly in talks with a number of Chinese clubs, including Shandong Luneng. On 12 February 2010, Shenzhen Ruby announced they had reached an agreement signing Nägelein. Nägelein chose this club since Shenzhen is situated just north of Hong Kong. Nägelein was in the regular lineup of Shenzhen and created the best opening season since the club was founded. In a league match against Changchun Yatai on 18 April 2010, over one-third of fouls by Yatai players attacked him due to his enormous…

In principle, Nägelein can represent either the Germany or Hong Kong national teams because he has both German citizenship and right of abode in Hong Kong. However, Nägelein controversially failed in his application for a Hong Kong passport due to his German citizenship, even he has the right by Hong Kong Basic Law since he was born in Hong Kong to a Hong Kong Chinese mother. After Nägelein returned to the Far East, Hong Kong coach Tsang Wai Chung told media he will call Nägelein for the team but Tsang did not select Nägelein for the training session before the 2010–11 season in Hong Kong. Tsang explained that some players would be called up during the season, but Nägelein was not chosen by Tsang for any training session in the season. Under FIFA eligibility rules, Nägelein could also play for the Chinese national team after a two-year Chinese Super League career for his Hong Kong passport. Nägelein recommended himself via his agent to Chinese Football Association in 2010, but the association told him that China team would not select him for any match. On 2 August 2013, the Hong Kong national team included Nägelein in the 29-man training squad for two international friendlies against Myanmar and Singapore in September 2013. On 3 October 2013, Nägelein did break into the 23-man final squad for 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification match against United Arab Emirates. He made his international debut for Hong Kong against United Arab Emirates on 15 October 2013.

Nägelein was born on 5 October 1981 in Hong Kong, his father, a German working in Hong Kong, and his mother, a Hongkonger. He has a sister, who was also born in Hong Kong. When he was a year old, his family went back to Nuremberg, Germany. At the age of five, Nägelein started playing football for a local club and he scored 170 goals in the league, so Nägelein switched to 1. FC Nürnberg and stayed for nine years. He played as a striker as a young player, but he plays as a midfielder. This is because his coach told him that "offense can win a game, but defense wins championship". After the Nuremberg era, he switched to different German clubs and he started his professional career in age 19.

While the surname of Nägelein's mother is Chan (Chinese: 陳), his Cantonese surname is Nip (Chinese: 聶), which is based on the pronunciation of his father's surname Nägelein. His Chinese given name Ling Fung (Chinese: 凌峰) is the same with his grandfather's name. Nägelein met his girlfriend in Nuremberg since he studied at business college for a short time when he was 18 years old. Nägelein speaks both German and English. Prior to playing for Shenzhen Ruby, he did not speak Cantonese or Mandarin. While living in Shenzhen, his aunt taught him Cantonese, and his former teammate Tiago taught him Mandarin.