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He became a cult hero during his time at City.

But now Sun Jihai has now been placed alongside some of the game's greatest players.

The former Blues defender was inducted into the National Football Museum's Hall of Fame on Friday.

It coincided with the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping who is in the city today as part of his official state visit.

Mr Jinping met the 38-year-old, who is now an ambassador the Blues, with the Prime Minister David Cameron.

The right-back joined the Blues in 2002 from Chinese side Dalian Shide after previously spending a year on loan at Crystal Palace.

He went on to make 130 appearances in a six-year stay, during which he became the first Chinese player to score in the Premier League.

(Image: MCFC/PA Wire)

And despite being something of a terrace hero, he was far from being considered a great.

So his induction into the hall of fame has raised a few eyebrows.

The roll of honour says it celebrates the achievements "of the all-time top talents to grace the game in England".

Only 36 people from the world of football have ever been inducted.

They include 1966 World Cup winners Bobby Moore and Sir Bobby Charlton and legendary managers, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Alf Ramsey, Bill Shankly and Brian Clough.

He becomes just the seventh foreign player on the list after Ossie Ardiles, Dennis Bergkamp, Eric Cantona, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Gianfranco Zola and Peter Schmeichel.

Pictures: The Chinese President in Manchester

The latest additions include United hero turned TV pundit Gary Neville, who was also at the short ceremony at the museum.

Jihai becomes the fourth former City player or manager to be inducted after Kevin Keegan, Stuart Pearce and Denis Law.

Afterwards the Chinese leader was taken for around City's new £200million, state-of-the art training facilities.

He was greeted by Mike Summerbee and Law before meeting senior figures from the club including chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak and star striker Sergio Aguero who posed for a selfie with the premier.