In 2012 the former Danish professional football player, Ebbe Sand joined forces with CETA to start Shanghai’s first professional football academy. As a player Ebbe Sand achieved more than most and in Denmark he is considered a national hero, having won the Danish championship 3 times in a row 96, 97 and 98. He finished his remarkable 98 season with a double and scored 28 in the league more than any player have done before or after. Bigger clubs noticed the Danish striker and after the astonishing year that earned him the award as Danish player of the year, in front of among others Michael Laudrup, he moved to Schalke 04 where he played the rest of his career.
In Shalke he won the German DFB pokal in 2001 where he was once again honored as Danish player of the year but also managed to become top scorer in the German Bundusliga with 22 goals, these achievements earned him the MVP honor in the Bundesliga, a reward given by his colleagues. In 2002 he managed once again to win the DFB pokal. As one of Denmark's best players for his time, he played 66 matches for the national team, where he scored 22 goals and competed twice in the world cup. The first time in 1998 and the second in 2002. He also took part of the national team representing Denmark at the Euro cup in 2000 and 2004. Before finally retiring at the age of 33 with an honorable match setup by Schalke 04 to commemorate his achievements for the club in 2006.
