From Leith to China: Derek Riordan swaps one People's Republic for another

Now based in a city of over eight million people, Derek Riordan might struggle to find that quiet pint. It's easy to be flippant about the former Hibernian striker's re-location to China of all places, but the 28 year-old has to be saluted for having the chutzpah to attempt to re-boot his career in such a far-flung location.

There will be a lot to get used to in Xi'an. Tuesday, for example, is the main night out, rather than the weekend. Those Scottish footballers who made the same trip before Riordan do not provide too much hope that he will fulfil his initial two-year contract. Jim McArthur, his agent, has spoken of Riordan wanting to stay even longer.

Maurice Ross left Aberdeen for Beijing Guoan and initially spoke of wishing to end his career in the People's Republic. He was back within ten months, via an unseemly spat with a motorist who he felt had frightened his girlfriend when sounding his car's horn too loudly. Ross ended up agreeing to pay the driver 3000 compensation for damaging the man's Cadillac.

Darren Jackson, meanwhile, was the first high-profile Scot to try his luck in China. He left for a trial with Dalian Wanda 12 years ago. He returned about 12 years ago as well. Jackson only stayed eight days, having learned that it was not for him. The former Scotland striker is refreshingly honest about the reasons why. A main obstacle, he recalled yesterday, was the food. "It was quite raw," he said. "It wasn't cooked the way it should have been - or at least the way I'd been used to."

He recalls rooming with Glenn Helder, the former Arsenal player and won't forget the buzz of Beijing. "I just remember going through the city in the team bus - the people were everywhere, like ants," Jackson said. But he wished Riordan well and backed him to last longer than he did.

Riordan is heading to country which is not without its problems when it comes to football. Match-fixing scandals and bribery allegations, which led to the arrests of several senior Chinese FA officials and referees earlier this year, saw a loss of morale in the game in China, where the national side has also failed to qualify for the last two World Cups.

But if Riordan's wish is to play in a more competitive league than in Scotland, then he could be in the right place. Five teams have won the Chinese title since the league was re-branded seven years ago. The Chinese Super League allows only five foreign players in total in each team's squad, and four foreign players on the pitch for any one team at anytime, one of whom must be from an Asian country. Riordan's arrival might not be welcomed by fellow foreigners who face being pushed to the sidelines.Included in the Shaanxi Chanba squad are Serbians, a Brazilian, an Australian and an Italian.

China was the last country to introduce a professional football league. The national side are currently ranked 75th - 14 places below Scotland. Not that international football is a concern of Riordan's. He last played for Scotland in the final game of George Burley's reign, coming on as substitute in the 3-0 defeat to Wales.

It was the last of three Scotland caps to date although what some would describe as his unsatisfying Scotland career did provide him with some previous experience of playing football in the Far East. Riordan's second cap came in Yokohama against Japan, when he played the last 16 minutes of another friendly defeat.

But the move to China all but confirms the end of Riordan's international ambitions. Craig Levein hasn't been inclined to include him in his squads even when he has been doing well and scoring with Hibs. It isn't likely that the Scotland manager is about to start making the four-flight journey to Xi'an to see Riordan perform, even if it offers the opportunity to visit the Terracotta Army - Xi'an's finest tourist attraction.

Riordan at least helped Hibs into Europe again on his return from Celtic and was briefly made captain by manager Colin Calderwood in an attempt to make him shoulder responsibility. It was possibly misguided. Riordan was sent off in his first game as skipper after a wild tackle on Rudi Skacel.

It was a sign of things beginning to sour again, although he did score in his last game for Hibs and has bade farewell with the good wishes of most ringing in his ears. Who knows? He may be back before we know it. However, in a cynical age, he deserves respect for giving such an extreme change a try. Though he will be amply rewarded, there is bound to be a price to pay as he seeks to re-ignite his career.