http://lesrosbifs.net/2010/11/latest-former-manchester-united-and-newcastle-united-midfielder-butt-goes-to-hong-kong/A piece of news that is as shocking as it is exciting has reached Les Rosbifs this morning with confirmation that Nicky Butt has agreed to sign for Hong Kong League champions South China. According to the local newspaper, The South China Morning Post, the deal has been confirmed after some intense speculation in the past 24 hours and Butt is arriving in Hong Kong at the end of November to formally sign the deal.
There are a number of minor details to sort out on the deal according to club officials, such as accommodation, access to flights home and so on, but reports suggest Butt, who is 35 and had announced his retirement last season, is keen. Further reports suggest he is also being paid a healthy salary which is expected to be far-and-away more than any other player in the competition is. The signing of Butt is a signal of intent from South China that they are keen to bolster their squad for the league campaign and the 2011 AFC Cup, which is the second tier competition for the clubs of middle-ranking Asian nations.
Butt, one of the so-called “Fergie’s Fledglings” at Manchester United alongside David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville, played a total of 269 times for the Red Devils in the Premier League, scoring 21 goals and winning a glut of honours including the UEFA Champions League in 1999, six Premier League titles and three FA Cup winners medals. Butt moved on to Newcastle United in summer 2004 after falling out of favour with Sir Alex Ferguson. His time with the Geordie club was hampered by injuries and inconsistent form early on, but he still managed to turn out for a total of 134 times for the club, with a loan spell with Birmingham City in between. Butt has also played 39 times for England and although he announced his retirement towards the end of last season, the offer of the chance to play at the more genteel pace of the HK League was clearly to good to refuse.
South China are based Hong Kong Island and play in the impressive national stadium (although they rarely fill it). Currently they sit in second place after six games, behind great rivals Kitchee on goal difference. The league is currently on a one month break and will resume in late November, shortly before Butt is due to fly in and sign. Easily the most successful side in Hong Kong in recent years, South China have won the league title for the past four seasons and (in their previous guises too) are the most successful club ever, with 40 league titles to their name. Currently their squad has four Brazilians playing amongst many local players, a number of whom form the basis of the international side. Most notable of these is 21 year old Au Yeung Yiu Chung, an attacking midfielder who is considered on the best in the region.
South China have participated in the AFC Cup three times since the initial tournament in 2004. In the 2010 edition they won their regional group, only to lose to Bahraini side Al-Riffa in the last 16. The intention now is to go all of the way, which would be an unprecedented achievement by a East Asian side. Interestingly, the club are also looking to make the most of their cooperation deal with Tottenham Hotspur and get a player in on loan from the London club in January. Rumours of an impending signing of a South American World Cup player are also rife, which would give the club a strong trio of foreigners for the AFC Cup. which opens in March. Six foreigners can be registered by the club for the competition, but only three can start.
In recent seasons the HK League has struggled to attract big names due mainly to the fact that the English-based expat clubs have been taken over by Chinese businesses. Although the top clubs are professional, money tends to be tight and clubs changing hands (and names) occurs frequently. There is one predominantly English club in the league: HKFC, who operate out of the racecourse in Happy Valley. They are the only amateur team in the top flight and will also see Butt come up against a number of his compatriots. Former Southampton and Queens park Rangers striker Tony Sealy is the Sporting Director of the club, while his son Jonathan plays for the team. Also regulars in the HKFC side are Englishmen such as Jaimes McKee, who has plied his trade well in Hong Kong regularly over the years, including a stint with Kitchee. HKFC currently sit bottom of the first division.
Perhaps the biggest names over the years to play regular league football in the state are former West Ham United and Celtic striker Frank McAvennie (South China 1992), while Dutch greats Rene van der Kerkhof and Theo de Jong both turned out for Seiko in the 1980′s. Even George Best played a couple of games in the 1980′s as he went club-hopping around the globe. The signing of Butt represents the biggest piece of business by a Hong Kong club for many a year.
