[1] He was soon promoted to club captain and won the Chinese Football Association Player of the Year award in 2004.

[2] Zhao was included into the Chinese national team by then manager Bora Milutinović for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

[3] Though his chances were limited on the national team at the time, he did play in two group stage matches during the tournament and nearly scored by hitting the post against Brazil.

On 29 September 2017, Zhao was appointed as the caretaker manager of Liaoning FC, who sat at the bottom of the league table.

[7] On 21 February 2023, Zhao was appointed as the head coach of Chinese Super League club Cangzhou Mighty Lions.