[1] After playing for Shanghai Pudong for several seasons he would be part of the squad that won promotion to the top tier.
[4] Cheng Liang however found his time limited at left-back due to Sun Xiang being the first choice left back within the team.
[5] His role as an assistant did not last long and when Miroslav Blažević came in to manage the club at the beginning of the 2010 Chinese Super League season he brought his own assistants and during the summer transfer window Cheng was allowed to join Shenzhen Ruby on loan for the rest of the season as a player.
[6] When Cheng returned from his loan period he saw his playing time significantly reduced due to injury and his age limiting him to a single game throughout the season against Qingdao Jonoon F.C.
[7] Despite already being 32 years old Cheng Liang was to make his international debut against Germany on 29 May 2009, in an impressive 1-1 friendly that saw him play as a centre-back.