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[[Guangzhou Evergrande]], and [[Shanghai SIPG]]. The current Super League champions are [[Shanghai SIPG]].<ref>[https://footystats.org/china/chinese-super-league/2016/overview 2016 League Overview] ''FootyStats''</ref>
[[Guangzhou Evergrande]], and [[Shanghai SIPG]]. The current Super League champions are [[Shanghai SIPG]].<ref>[https://footystats.org/china/chinese-super-league/2016/overview 2016 League Overview] ''FootyStats''</ref>


The Chinese Super League is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in China, with an average attendance of 23,766 for league matches in the 2017 season. This is the twelfth-highest of any domestic professional sports league in the world and the fifth-highest of any professional association football league in the world, behind the [[Bundesliga]], the [[Premier League]], the [[La Liga]] and the [[Liga MX]].
The Chinese Super League is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in China, with an average attendance of 24,107 for league matches in the 2018 season. This is the twelfth-highest of any domestic professional sports league in the world and the fifth-highest of any professional association football league in the world, behind the [[Bundesliga]], the [[Premier League]], the [[La Liga]], the [[Serie A]] and the [[Liga MX]].


The League is now running under the authorization of the Chinese Football Association, The CSL Company, which is currently the commercial branch of the League, is a corporation in which the CFA and all of the member clubs act as shareholders. It is planned that the CFA will ultimately transfer their shares of The CSL Company to the clubs and professional union which consists of CSL clubs will be established as the League's management entity.{{Citation needed|reason=This factual element needs verifying|date=October 2017}}
The League is now running under the authorization of the Chinese Football Association, The CSL Company, which is currently the commercial branch of the League, is a corporation in which the CFA and all of the member clubs act as shareholders. It is planned that the CFA will ultimately transfer their shares of The CSL Company to the clubs and professional union which consists of CSL clubs will be established as the League's management entity.{{Citation needed|reason=This factual element needs verifying|date=October 2017}}

Revision as of 08:14, 13 November 2018

Chinese Super League (CSL)
File:Chinese Super League Logo 2.png
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004)
Country China
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toChina League One
Domestic cup(s)Chinese FA Cup
Chinese FA Super Cup
International cup(s)AFC Champions League
Current championsShanghai SIPG (1st title)
(2018)
Most championshipsGuangzhou Evergrande Taobao (7 titles)
Most appearancesYang Zhi (350)
Top goalscorerWu Lei (100 goals)
WebsiteCSL-China.com
Current: 2019 Chinese Super League

The Chinese Football Association Super League (simplified Chinese: 中国足球协会超级联赛; traditional Chinese: 中國足球協會超級聯賽; pinyin: Zhōngguó Zúqiú Xiéhuì Chāojí Liánsài), commonly known as Chinese Super League (simplified Chinese: 中超联赛; traditional Chinese: 中超聯賽; pinyin: Zhōngchāo Liánsài) or CSL, currently known as the China Ping An Chinese Football Association Super League for sponsorship reasons,[1] is the highest tier of professional football in China, operating under the auspices of the Chinese Football Association (CFA).

The Chinese Super League was created by the rebranding of the former top division Chinese Football Association Jia-A League in 2004 (see Chinese Jia-A League, not to be confused with Chinese Football Association Jia League, which is the current second tier league).

Originally contested by 12 teams in its inaugural year, the league has since expanded, with 16 teams competing in the current season. A total of 31 teams have competed in the CSL since its inception. The title has been won by seven teams: Shenzhen Jianlibao, Dalian Shide, Shandong Luneng, Changchun Yatai, Beijing Guoan, Guangzhou Evergrande, and Shanghai SIPG. The current Super League champions are Shanghai SIPG.[2]

The Chinese Super League is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in China, with an average attendance of 24,107 for league matches in the 2018 season. This is the twelfth-highest of any domestic professional sports league in the world and the fifth-highest of any professional association football league in the world, behind the Bundesliga, the Premier League, the La Liga, the Serie A and the Liga MX.

The League is now running under the authorization of the Chinese Football Association, The CSL Company, which is currently the commercial branch of the League, is a corporation in which the CFA and all of the member clubs act as shareholders. It is planned that the CFA will ultimately transfer their shares of The CSL Company to the clubs and professional union which consists of CSL clubs will be established as the League's management entity.[citation needed]

Overview

Competition

Unlike many top European leagues, the Chinese Super League starts in February or March and ends in November or December. In each season, each club plays each of the other clubs twice, once at home and another away. With 16 clubs currently in the Super League, teams play 30 games each, for a total of 240 games in the season.

The two lowest-placed teams by the end of the season are relegated to the China League One and the top two teams from the League One are promoted, taking their places.

The League position is determined by the highest number of points accumulated during the season. If two or more teams are level on points, tiebreakers are, in the following order

  1. Highest number of points accumulated in matches between the teams concerned;
  2. Highest goal difference in matches between the teams concerned;
  3. Highest number of goals scored in matches between the teams concerned;
  4. Highest points accumulated by the reserve teams in the reserve league
  5. Highest points accumulated by the U19 teams in the U19 league
  6. Highest goal difference;
  7. Highest number of goals scored;
  8. Fair-Play points (Clubs deduct 1 point for a yellow card, and 3 points for a red card);
  9. Draw by lot;

Chinese Super League clubs in international competition

Main article: Chinese clubs in the AFC Champions League

Since the Asian Football Confederation starts the AFC Champions League in 2002-03 season, China was given 2 slots in the competition, qualification for the AFC Champions League changed in 2009 as AFC distribute 4 slots to China, The top three of the league, as well as the winner of the Chinese FA Cup, qualify for the AFC Champions League of the next year. If the FA Cup finalists finish the league in 3rd or higher, the 4th place team in the league will take the Champions League spot.

Between the 2002–03 and the 2017 season, Chinese clubs won the AFC Champions League two times, behind Korean K-League with five wins, and Japanese J-League with three wins.

The Chinese Super League is currently first in the AFC Club Competitions Ranking of Asian leagues based on their performances in Asian competitions over a four-year period and FIFA ranking for national teams.[3]

Development

In 17 November 2017, the Vice-president of the CFA, Li Yuyi, disclosed the expansion plan of the top four level leagues of China. The Chinese Super League is planning to expand to 18 clubs, followed by China League One with 20 clubs, China League Two with 32 clubs and the Chinese Football Association Member Association Champions League with 48 clubs.[4]

History

Origins

For the history of Chinese Professional football before the inception of the Chinese Super league, see Chinese Jia-A League.

The Chinese National Football League was started in 1951, namely National Football Conference, it is a round-robin tournament with 8 teams participating. In 1954, the competition was renamed as National Football League, the League was divided into two Divisions in 1956 and promotion/relegation between the two tiers started since 1957. In the 1980s, the Chinese Football Association allows enterprise entity to sponsor and invest in football teams, the League enters Semi-pro period in 1987, sponsored by Goldlion Group, the league played its' first ever home and away season, teams participating includes the top 7 clubs of 1986 Division 1 together with Liaoning, who was 1985 season champions but did not compete in 1986 league season due to participate in Asian Club Championship, the tournament was named as National Football League Division 1 Group A, shortly as Chinese Jia-A League, the other 8 clubs of Division 1 and top 4 clubs from Division 2 participated in Chinese Jia-B League. The two groups merged in 1988 season but divided again in 1989.

In 1994, as part of the sports system reform project,the Chinese Jia-A League became the country's first professional football league. The Jia-A league achieved success in its early years, but in the late ’90s heavy criticism existed towards the League's management practices like the lack of continuity in key policies, and some of its member clubs was criticised for a lack of sustainable development. At the same time, the league was affected by gambling, match-fixing and corruption.[5] the chaotic state of Jia-A causes troubled investment environment with sponsors and club owners bowing out. The Chinese Football Association then decided to reform the League system, which ultimately led to the creation of the Chinese Super League. The initial conception is to introduce truly commercial methods and let professional football market operate more freely,drawing on the experience of professional Leagues in Europe to redesign the league structure and strengthen professionalism.

On January 13, 2001, Yan Shiduo, vice-president of the Chinese Football Association, discussed about setting up a new professional league system.[6] In 2002, the CFA made a decision to establish the Chinese Super League, which started in 2004.

Foundation

Compared to the Jia-A, the CSL is a lot more demanding on teams. The CFA and CSL committee imposed a range of minimum criteria to ensure professional management and administration, financial probity, and a youth development program at every club. The CSL published first edition of CSL club criteria in 2002 and revised it several times, club license system was introduced since 2004. Besides the regular professional league, the CSL also has a reserve league,and Youth super league plays in U-19,U-17,U-15,U-14 and U-13 levels.

The CSL and China League One's goals are to promote high quality and high-level competition, introduce advanced managerial concepts to the market, enforce the delivery of minimum standards of professionalism, encourage the influx of more higher quality foreign coaches and players, and gradually establish the European system for player registrations and transfers.

Summary

The first CSL season began in 2004, with 12 teams in the league. The inaugural season was plagued with controversy, which continued from the former league, Jia-A, and where, since 1999, scandals such as match fixing and gambling had been uncovered.[7] This resulted in loss of interest in the domestic game, low attendances and great financial losses.[citation needed]

The original plan was to have one relegated team and two promoted teams for the 2004 season and 2005 season, thus increasing the number of teams in 2006 to 14. But the CFA's decisions caused the relegations to be cancelled for these 2 years.

For the 2005 season, the league expanded to 14 teams after Wuhan Huanghelou and Zhuhai Zhongbang won promotion from China League One. The Zhuhai team, formerly Zhuhai Anping, had been bought by the Shanghai Zhongbang real estate company and relocated to Shanghai for the 2005 season, and subsequently renamed to Shanghai Zobon.

In 2006, the league was planned to expand to 16 teams with the newly promoted Xiamen Lanshi and Changchun Yatai. However, Sichuan Guancheng withdrew before the start of the season, leaving only 15 teams when the season started on March 11. Shanghai Liancheng Zobon, after another change of ownership, was renamed Shanghai United.

In 2007, the league was again planned to be expanded to 16 teams, but once again it found itself one team short. Shanghai United's owner, Zhu Jun, bought a major share in local rival Shanghai Shenhua and merged the two teams. As a result, Shanghai Shenhua retained its name as it already had a strong fanbase in the city, while Shanghai United pulled out of the league.

In 2008, the season started with 16 clubs participating for the first time, however Wuhan protested against punishments made by the CFA after a match against Beijing Guo'an, and announced its immediate withdrawal from the league, which left the season to finish with 15 clubs.

Since 2009, the league has run with 16 stable clubs participating in each year. Two are relegated to China League One, and two promoted from China League One each season.

In 2010, the CSL was beset by a scandal going right to the top of the CFA. The Chinese government took nationwide action against football gambling, match-fixing and corruption, and former CFA vice presidents Xie Yalong, Nan Yong and Yang Yimin were arrested.[8] On February 22, 2010, CFA relegate Guangzhou Yiyao for match-fixing in 2006 China League One Season, as well as Chengdu Blades for match-fixing in 2007 China League One season.[9]

In 2011, the anti-corruption movement had visibly improved the image of the CSL, with increases to attendance. Clubs such as Guangzhou Evergrande and Shanghai Shenhua began investing heavily in foreign stars. After former Fluminense midfielder Darío Conca transferred in 2011, some notable signings during the 2012 seasons included former Chelsea forward Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, former Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita and Fábio Rochemback, former Sevilla forward Frédéric Kanouté, former Blackburn Rovers forward Yakubu and former Borussia Dortmund forward Lucas Barrios. Former Japanese national team coach Takeshi Okada took up the reins as the new coach of Hangzhou Greentown, former Argentina national team coach Sergio Batista replaced Jean Tigana as Shanghai Shenhua's head coach, and former Italy national team and Juventus manager Marcello Lippi replaced Lee Jang-Soo as Guangzhou Evergrande's head coach.

In 2012, Guangzhou Evergrande became the first Chinese team to defend their CSL title, and to win consecutive titles. However, eight-time champions of Professional League, Dalian Shide, had seriously financial problems during the entire season, especially after the arrest of club owner Xu Ming. They had planned to merge with Dalian Aerbin, the other CSL club of the city, but the Chinese Football Association blocked the merger at the end, as Dalian Shide failed to cancel their registration as a CSL club before the merger. So Aerbin effectively purchased and swallowed up Shide, including the club's famed academy and training facilities. Dalian Shide was officially dissolved on 31 January 2013. The country's most successful club had ceased to exist.

2013 David Beckham became first global ambassador for CSL. Guangzhou Evergrande won AFC Champions League for first time. In February 2013, Shanghai Shenhua was stripped of its 2003 Chinese Ji-A league title as part of a broad match-fixing crackdown. In total, 12 clubs were handed punishments, while 33 people, including former CFA vice-president Xie Yalong and Nan Yong, received life bans.

In 2014 Guangzhou Evergrande became the first Chinese club to win four consecutive professional league titles.

In 2015 ex-Tottenham midfielder Paulinho moved to Guangzhou Evergrande at the age of 27, Guangzhou Evergrande become AFC champions League champions for second time.

In 2016 Chinese super league became a rising power in the global transfer market. Brazil international Ramires, Colombia international Jackson Martinez and Fredy Guarin were among the notable signings, while Pavel Nedvěd was appointed as second global ambassador for CSL.

2017 saw the Chinese Super League (CSL) catapulted to global attention. Players such as Oscar, Carlos Tevez, Ricardo Carvalho, Alexandre Pato and John Obi Mikel all moved east during the year. Guangzhou Evergrande won their 7th consecutive league title.

Planning cooperation structure

The preparatory committee of the Chinese Professional Football League was established On May 27, 2016,[10] with members from 5 CSL clubs, 3 CL1 clubs and 2 CL2 clubs, includes two CFA representatives, the blueprint is to have all of the three professional level leagues of China, the Chinese Super League, China Football League one and China Football League two separated from the League structure of the CFA. The PFL will be a private company wholly owned by its Member Clubs who make up the League at any one time. Each club is a shareholder, with one vote each on issues such as rule changes and contracts. The newly formed PFL would have commercial independence from The CFA, giving the PFL licence to negotiate its own broadcast and sponsorship agreements.

The CFA will no longer holds any shares of the League, but as national governing body for football in China the CFA is responsible for sanctioning competition Rule Books, and regulating on-field matters. It also organises The CFA Cup competition, in which PFL Member Clubs compete.and the lower division leagues ranked after CL2, under specific agreement between CFA and PFL, The CFA will also has the ability to exercise a vote on certain specific issues, but has no role in the day-to-day running of the CSL, CL1 and CL2.

On January 3, 2017, the CFA announced that Chinese Professional Football League, formed as a limited company, will be established in March 2017, the CSL and CL1 clubs will be found members of the PFL starts from 2017, with CL2 planning to join the system by 2019. The PFL preparatory committee will discuss and establish the regulations and the structures of the PFL, holding the elections of the PFL president in January and February 2017. however, after a series of meetings includes CFA officers and club owners, the plan had been put on hold.

Clubs

Chinese Super League seasons and champions

See also: List of Chinese football champions
Season Champions Runners-up Third place
2004 Shenzhen Jianlibao Shandong Luneng Taishan Inter Shanghai
2005 Dalian Shide Shanghai Shenhua Shandong Luneng Taishan
2006 Shandong Luneng Taishan Shanghai Shenhua Beijing Guoan
2007 Changchun Yatai Beijing Guoan Shandong Luneng Taishan
2008 Shandong Luneng Taishan Shanghai Shenhua Beijing Guoan
2009 Beijing Guoan Changchun Yatai Henan Construction
2010 Shandong Luneng Taishan Tianjin Teda Shanghai Shenhua
2011 Guangzhou Evergrande Beijing Guoan Liaoning FC
2012 Guangzhou Evergrande Jiangsu Sainty Beijing Guoan
2013 Guangzhou Evergrande Shandong Luneng Taishan Beijing Guoan
2014 Guangzhou Evergrande Beijing Guoan Guangzhou R&F
2015 Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Shanghai SIPG Shandong Luneng Taishan
2016 Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Jiangsu Suning Shanghai SIPG
2017 Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Shanghai SIPG Tianjin Quanjian
2018 Shanghai SIPG Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Shandong Luneng Taishan

Most successful clubs

Club Titles Runners-up Winning seasons Runner-up seasons
Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao
7
1
 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 2018
Shandong Luneng Taishan
3
2
 2006, 2008, 2010 2004, 2013
Beijing Sinobo Guoan
1
3
 2009 2007, 2011, 2014
Shanghai SIPG
1
2
 2018 2015, 2017
Changchun Yatai
1
1
 2007 2009
Shenzhen Jianlibao
1
0
 2004
Dalian Shide
1
0
 2005
Shanghai Greenland Shenhua
0
3
 2005, 2006, 2008
Jiangsu Suning
0
2
 2012, 2016
Tianjin Teda
0
1
 2010
Total 14 14

Current clubs

class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in 2019 Chinese Super League
Club Chinese name Owners Home stadium Capacity Seasons in CSL Best finish Worst finish Spell in level 1
Beijing Renhe 北京人和 Renhe Commercial Holdings Company Limited Beijing Fengtai Stadium 31,043 2004 to 2015, 2018 to 2019 3rd, 2004 15th, 2015 from 2018
Beijing Sinobo Guoan 北京中赫国安 Sinobo Group (64%); CITIC Group (36%) Workers Stadium 66,000 2004 to 2019 1st, 2009 9th, 2017 from 2004
Chongqing Dangdai Lifan 重庆当代力帆 Desports (90%); Lifan Group (10%) Chongqing Olympic Sports Center 58,600 2004 to 2006, 2009 to 2010, 2015 to 2019 8th, 2015, 2016 16th, 2009 from 2015
Dalian Yifang 大连一方 Yifang group Dalian Sports Center 61,000 2012 to 2014, 2018 to 2019 5th, 2012, 2013 15th, 2014 from 2018
Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 广州恒大淘宝 Evergrande Group (60%); Alibaba Group (40%) Tianhe Stadium 58,500 2008 to 2009, 2011 to 2019 1st, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 9th, 2009 from 2011
Guangzhou R&F 广州富力 Guangzhou R&F Properties Co., Ltd. Yuexiushan Stadium 18,000 2004 to 2010, 2012 to 2019 3rd, 2014 16th, 2010 from 2012
Hebei CFFC 河北华夏幸福 China Fortune Land Development Co., Ltd Langfang Stadium 30,040 2016 to 2019 4th, 2017 7th, 2016 from 2016
Henan Jianye 河南建业 Henan Haolin Investment (95.7%) Zhengzhou Hanghai Stadium 29,800 2007 to 2012, 2014 to 2019 3rd, 2009 16th, 2012 from 2014
Jiangsu Suning 江苏苏宁 Suning Appliance Group Nanjing Olympic Sports Center 62,000 2009 to 2019 2nd, 2012, 2016 13th, 2013 from 2009
Shandong Luneng Taishan 山东鲁能泰山 Luneng Group Jinan Olympic Sports Luneng Stadium 56,800 2004 to 2019 1st, 2006, 2008, 2010 14th, 2016 from 2004
Shanghai Greenland Shenhua 上海绿地申花 Greenland Group Hongkou Football Stadium 33,000 2004 to 2019 2nd, 2005, 2006, 2008 11th, 2011, 2017 from 2004
Shanghai SIPG 上海上港 Shanghai International Port Group Shanghai Stadium 56,800 2013 to 2019 1st, 2018 9th, 2013 from 2013
Shenzhen F.C. 深圳FC Kaisa Group (90%) Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre 60,334 2004 to 2011, 2019 1st, 2004 16th, 2011 from 2019
Tianjin Quanjian 天津权健 Quanjian Natural Medical Group Haihe Educational Football Stadium 30,000 2017 to 2019 3rd, 2017 9th, 2018 from 2017
Tianjin Teda 天津泰达 TEDA Investment Holding Co., Ltd. (85.4%) Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium 54,700 2004 to 2019 2nd, 2010 14th, 2018 from 2004
Wuhan Zall 武汉卓尔 Wuhan Zall Development Holding Co. Ltd Dongxihu Sports Center 30,000 2013, 2019 16th, 2013 from 2019

Former clubs

Club Chinese name Seasons in CSL Best finish Worst finish Current league
Changchun Yatai 长春亚泰 2006 to 2018 1st, 2007 15th, 2018 China League One
Guizhou Hengfeng 贵州恒丰 2017 to 2018 8th, 2017 16th, 2018 China League One
Liaoning Whowin 辽宁宏运 2004 to 2008, 2010 to 2017 3rd, 2011 16th, 2017 China League One
Yanbian Funde 延边富德 2016 to 2017 9th, 2016 15th, 2017 China League One
Shijiazhuang Ever Bright 石家庄永昌 2015 to 2016 7th, 2015 16th, 2016 China League One
Zhejiang Greentown 浙江绿城 2007 to 2016 4th, 2010 15th, 2009, 2016 China League One
Shanghai Shenxin 上海申鑫 2010 to 2015 7th, 2013 16th, 2015 China League One
Zhejiang Yiteng 浙江毅腾 2014 16th, 2014 China League One
Qingdao Jonoon 青岛中能 2004 to 2013 6th, 2011 15th, 2013 China League Two
Dalian Shide 大连实德 2004 to 2012 1st, 2005 14th, 2008, 2012 Defunct
Chengdu Tiancheng 成都天诚 2008 to 2009, 2011 9th, 2009 15th, 2011 Defunct
Wuhan Guanggu 武汉光谷 2005 to 2008 5th, 2005 16th, 2008 Defunct
Xiamen Lanshi 厦门蓝狮 2006 to 2007 8th, 2006 15th, 2007 Defunct
Shanghai United 上海联城 2005 to 2006 7th, 2006 11th, 2005 Defunct
Sichuan Guancheng 四川冠城 2004 to 2005 9th, 2004, 2005 Defunct

All-time CSL table

The All-time CSL table is an overall record of all match results, points, and goals of every team that has played in CSL since its inception in 2004. The table is accurate as of the end of the 2018 season.

Pos Team S GP W D L GF GA GD Pts 1st 2nd
1 Shandong Luneng Taishan 15 434 216 118 100 754 498 256 766 3 2
2 Beijing Sinobo Guoan 15 434 205 125 104 652 434 218 740 1 3
3 Shanghai Greenland Shenhua 15 434 169 137 128 605 546 59 644 - 3
4 Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 10 300 180 68 52 635 304 331 603 7 1
5 Tianjin Teda 15 434 155 135 144 564 555 9 568 - 1
6 Changchun Yatai 13 386 142 107 137 512 508 4 533 1 1
7 Guangzhou R&F 14 404 129 112 163 505 581 -76 499 - -
8 Beijing Renhe 13 374 121 122 131 449 463 -14 448 - -
9 Liaoning F.C. 13 374 106 110 158 440 566 -126 428 - -
10 Jiangsu Suning 10 300 107 93 100 398 357 41 414 - 2
11 Henan Jianye 11 328 95 99 134 330 411 -81 384 - -
12 Dalian Shide 9 254 96 78 80 332 304 28 366 1 -
13 Zhejiang Greentown 10 298 87 92 119 325 392 -67 353 - -
14 Qingdao Jonoon 10 284 82 87 115 303 361 -58 333 - -
15 Shanghai SIPG 6 180 93 49 38 353 213 140 328 1 2
16 Chongqing Dangdai Lifan 9 256 58 75 123 270 410 -140 249 - -
17 Shenzhen F.C. 8 224 59 70 92 227 307 -80 247 1 -
18 Shanghai Shenxin 6 180 46 43 91 176 265 -89 181 - -
19 Dalian Yifang 4 120 38 35 47 160 191 -31 149 - -
20 Hebei CFFC 3 90 36 23 31 135 126 9 131 - -
21 Wuhan Guanggu 4 112 30 23 59 91 189 -98 113 - -
22 Chengdu Tiancheng 3 90 23 29 38 89 123 -34 98 - -
23 Tianjin Quanjian 2 60 24 18 18 87 81 6 90 - -
24 Shijiazhuang Ever Bright 2 60 15 24 21 62 84 -22 69 - -
25 Guizhou Hengfeng 2 60 19 9 32 73 111 -38 66 - -
26 Shanghai United 2 54 14 19 21 50 60 -10 61 - -
27 Yanbian Funde 2 60 15 14 31 71 105 -34 59 - -
28 Xiamen Lanshi 2 56 13 19 24 50 73 -23 58 - -
29 Sichuan Guancheng 2 48 12 16 20 57 82 -25 52 - -
30 Zhejiang Yiteng 1 30 5 6 19 35 56 -21 21 - -
31 Wuhan Zall 1 30 3 7 20 24 58 -34 16 - -
Total 15 3,374 2,208 1852
[nb 1]		 2,208 9,164 – 8,476 15
2019 Chinese Super League
2019 China League One
2019 China League Two
2019 Chinese Champions League
Clubs that no longer exist

Players

Player Salaries and Transfers

Professional footballers in China receive relatively high salaries when compared to other Chinese sports leagues and football leagues in other countries. The average salary for CSL players is $1,016,579 in 2017,[11] it is ranked at eleventh place among all of the professional sports leagues and the sixth-highest of any professional association football league in the world.

CSL has two transfer windows—the primary pre-season transfer window lasts two months from January to February, and the secondary mid season transfer window runs one month from mid June to mid July. As of the 2018 season, the CSL introduced new rules mandating that each club must register a maximum 31-man squad, with 27 Chinese Players, including a player from Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese Taipei, and 4 foreign players. In the transfer window clubs could sign 5 Chinese players at any age, plus 3 under 21 Chinese players; clubs could register 4 foreign players in the winter transfer, and replace two of them in the summer transfer.[12]

The record transfer fee for a CSL player has risen rapidly since the investment boost started in 2015. The six most expensive transfers with players coming to CSL have exceeded €30 million, with Chelsea selling Oscar to Shanghai SIPG in December 2016 for a fee of €60 million,[13] Zenit Saint Petersburg selling Hulk to Shanghai SIPG for €55.8 million in July 2016, Shakhtar Donetsk selling Alex Teixeira to Jiangsu Suning for €50 million in February 2016, Atlético Madrid selling Jackson Martínez to Guangzhou Evergrande for €42 million in February 2016, Villarreal selling Cédric Bakambu to Beijing Sinobo Guoan for €40 million in February 2018, Atlético Madrid selling Yannick Carrasco to Dalian Yifang for €30 million in February 2018. Guangzhou Evergrande's sale of Paulinho to Barcelona for €40 million in 2017 broke the record for a CSL player transfer to other leagues. Transfer fees for domestic players also increased dramatically. Beijing Sinobo Guoan sold Chinese International Zhang Chengdong to Hebei China Fortune for ¥150 million in January 2017, breaking the domestic transfer record for Chinese players.

The Chinese Football Association introduced a new transfer tax to restrict transfer spending. On June 20, 2017, CFA announced that any club that pays more than ¥45 million for a foreign player transfer or ¥20 million for a Chinese player transfer must pay the same amount to a CFA youth development fund.[14]

Foreign Player policy

Main article: List of foreign Chinese Super League players

In early years numerous players from Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America regions were signed as the foreign players in the Chinese league. Steadily, a lot of players transferred to China from major European and South American Leagues. The league has rules, at present, restricting the number of foreign players strictly to four per team. A team could use a maximum of three foreign players on the field each game. This is to promote native player improvement and to conform to rules regarding international club competitions in the AFC. Between 2009 and 2017, there was an additional slot for a player from AFC countries. During the middle of the 2012 season, it was decided that teams that were competing in the AFC Champions League were allowed to have two extra foreign players, which can bring the number of foreigners on a team's seven; however, the policy was removed in the 2013 season.

Season Squad On-field Note
1994–2000 3 3
2001–2003 4 3 From 2001, foreign goalkeepers were restricted to play in matches.
2004–2006 3 2
2007–2008 4 3
2009–2016 4+1 3+1 "+1" refers to the AFC quota. Teams may add a player from another country within the AFC; examples include Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal.
2017 4+1 3 Teams can use three foreign players at most in a match.[15]
2018– 4 3 Teams can use three foreign players at most in a match, and the number of foreign players on-field in one match must be no more than the number of U-23 domestic players.[16]

Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwanese players

Policy for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwanese players has changed continually. Players from Hong Kong Football Association were considered foreigners at the beginning of 2009, but the league held back the change until the summer transfer window. After the 2010 season, players from Macau Football Association and Chinese Taipei Football Association (except goalkeepers) were not considered foreigners in CSL matches, but will be regarded as foreigners in AFC competitions. In the 2015 season, players who had not played for the Hong Kong national football team, Macau national football team or the Chinese Taipei national football team were no longer deemed native players.[17] In the 2016 and 2017 season, players from the three associations whose contract was signed after 1 January 2016 were no longer deemed native players.[18] From the 2018 season, a club could register one non-naturalized player from the three associations as a native player.[19] According to the Chinese FA, a non-naturalized player refers to someone who was first registered as a professional footballer in the three football associations. Furthermore, Hong Kong or Macau players must be of Chinese descent of Hong Kong or Macau permanent resident, and Taiwanese players must be citizens of Taiwan.[20]

Top scorers and Appearances

As of 6 May 2018

Head coaches

In early years Chinese and Serbian coaches achieved success in the Chinese Super League. Just like the Jia-A period, the majority of foreign coaches were from countries like Serbia, Croatia and South Korea. Nowadays most CSL clubs appoint coaches from Western Europe and South America. Guangzhou Evergrande were the first side to spend big to bring in European and South American coaches. World Cup winning managers Marcello Lippi and Luiz Felipe Scolari had successful experiences at Guangzhou Evergrande. Famous coaches who have coached in China include Fabio Capello, Felix Magath, Manuel Pellegrini, André Villas-Boas, Cuca, Sven-Göran Eriksson, Sergio Batista, Radomir Antić.

Winning head coaches
Head coach Club Wins Winning years
Italy Marcello Lippi Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 3 2012,2013,2014
Brazil Luiz Felipe Scolari Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 2015,2016,2017
Serbia Ljubiša Tumbaković Shandong Luneng Taishan 2 2006,2008
China Zhu Guanghu Shenzhen Jianlibao 1 2004
Serbia Vladimir Petrović Pižon Dalian Shide 2005
China Gao Hongbo Changchun Yatai 2007
China Hong Yuanshuo Beijing Guoan 2009
Croatia Branko Ivanković Shandong Luneng Taishan 2010
South Korea Lee Jang-Soo Guangzhou Evergrande 2011
Portugal Vítor Pereira Shanghai SIPG 2018
Current head coaches
Nat. Name Club Appointed Time in charge
Serbia Dragan Stojković Guangzhou R&F 24 August 2015 9 years, 25 days
China Chen Jingang Changchun Yatai 4 May 2017 7 years, 137 days
Spain Luis García Beijing Renhe 9 June 2017 7 years, 101 days
Germany Roger Schmidt Beijing Sinobo Guoan 10 June 2017 7 years, 100 days
Germany Uli Stielike Tianjin Teda 9 September 2017 7 years, 9 days
China Wu Jingui Shanghai Greenland Shenhua 11 September 2017 7 years, 7 days
Italy Fabio Cannavaro Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 9 November 2017 6 years, 314 days
China Li Xiaopeng Shandong Luneng Taishan 1 December 2017 6 years, 292 days
Portugal Vítor Pereira Shanghai SIPG 12 December 2017 6 years, 281 days
Germany Bernd Schuster Dalian Yifang 19 March 2018 6 years, 183 days
Romania Cosmin Olăroiu Jiangsu Suning 28 March 2018 6 years, 174 days
Romania Dan Petrescu Guizhou Hengfeng 7 June 2018 6 years, 103 days
Wales Chris Coleman Hebei China Fortune 10 June 2018 6 years, 100 days
Netherlands Jordi Cruyff Chongqing Dangdai Lifan 8 August 2018 6 years, 41 days
China Wang Baoshan Henan Jianye 27 September 2018 5 years, 357 days
South Korea Choi Kang-Hee Tianjin Quanjian 3 November 2018 5 years, 320 days
Most games managed
Rank Manager Games Club(s)
1 China Ma Lin 245 Liaoning FC (2004,2008,2010-2013,2015-2017); Chongqing Lifan(2005);Dalian Yifang(2014)
2 China Shen Xiangfu 203 Beijing Guoan (2005-2006);Guangzhou Pharmaceutical (2008-2009); Changchun Yatai (2010-2011); Henan Jianye(2012); Shanghai Shenhua (2013-2014)
3 Serbia Ljubiša Tumbaković 178 Shandong Luneng Taishan (2004-2009); Wuhan Zall (2013)
4 China Gao Hongbo 160 Xiamen Lanshi(2006); Changchun Yatai (2007-2008); Guizhou Renhe(2011-2012); Shanghai East Asia(2013); Jiangsu Sainty (2013-3015)
5 China Jia Xiuquan 152 Henan Jianye (2008,2014-2017); Shanghai Shenhua(2008-2009)
5 China Tang Yaodong 152 Liaoning FC(2005-2007); Henan Jianye (2008-2010,2014)
7 South Korea Lee Jang-Soo 148 Beijing Guo'an (2006-2009);Guangzhou Evergrande (2011-2012);Changchun Yatai (2016-2017)
8 Netherlands Arie Haan 137 Chongqing Lifan(2009); Tianjin Teda (2010-2011,2014-2015)
9 China Zhu Jiong 136 Shanghai Shenxin (2010-2013); Guizhou Renhe (2014-2015)
10 South Korea Chang Woe-Ryong 133 Qingdao Jonoon (2011, 2012-2013); Dalian Aerbin (2011); Chongqing Lifan (2016-2017);
Statistics correct as end of 2017 Chinese super league

Attendance

The Chinese Super League has the highest average attendance of any football league in Asia. However, stadiums has capacity restrictions.

Season averages

Season Total Attendance Games Average Change High avg. Team No. Of Clubs Relegation Slots
2004 1,430,600 132 10,838 -63.4% 23,636 Shandong Luneng Taishan 12 -
2005 1,871,700 182 10,284 -5.4% 26,000 Shandong Luneng Taishan 14 -
2006 2,228,300 210 10,611 +3.2% 30,679 Shandong Luneng Taishan 15 1
2007 3,173,500 210 15,112 +42.4% 24,643 Shanxi Chanba 15 1
2008 3,065,280 228 13,444 -12.4% 26,501 Shandong Luneng Taishan 16 2
2009 3,854,115 240 16,059 +19.5% 36,805 Beijing Guoan 16 2
2010 3,499,304 240 14,581 -9.2% 33,342 Beijing Guoan 16 2
2011 4,236,322 240 17,651 +21.1% 45,666 Guangzhou Evergrande 16 2
2012 4,497,578 240 18,740 +6.2% 37,250 Guangzhou Evergrande 16 2
2013 4,456,977 240 18,571 -0.9% 40,428 Guangzhou Evergrande 16 2
2014 4,556,520 240 18,986 +2.2% 42,154 Guangzhou Evergrande 16 2
2015 5,326,304 240 22,193 +16.8% 45,889 Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 16 2
2016 5,798,135 240 24,159 +8.8% 44,883 Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 16 2
2017 5,703,871 240 23,766 −1.6% 45,587 Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 16 2
2018 5,785,766 240 24,107 +1.4% 47,002 Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 16 2

Attendance by clubs

This table lists average attendances of clubs yearly, but only for seasons when that club played in the top division. Clubs are listed with their current names.

Team Crowd average
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Beijing Sinobo Guoan 10,864 18,923 13,571 21,571 14,641 36,805 33,342 40,397 36,879 39,269 39,395 40,997 38,114 34,684 41,743
Beijing Renhe 8,455 4,385 17,286 24,643 24,625 23,026 28,053 27,836 29,574 21,312 12,327 15,139 - - 12,534
Changchun Yatai - - 8,607 16,429 5,797 12,179 10,067 13,835 12,701 12,975 12,886 14,855 15,335 16,477 18,819
Chongqing Dangdai Lifan 15,727 5,731 6,536 - - 11,440 11,433 - - - - 37,595 36,178 34,439 32,434
Chengdu Blades - - - - 12,378 11,873 - 6,443 - - - - - - -
Dalian Yifang - - - - - - - - 15,774 10,538 10,993 - - - 33,145
Dalian Shide 11,273 14,000 5,043 10,286 7,900 16,613 12,307 17,148 11,093 - - - - - -
Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao - - - - 19,624 20,057 – 45,666 37,250 40,428 42,154 45,889 44,883 45,587 47,002
Guangzhou R&F 5,000 2,077 2,750 10,571 6,645 8,498 10,152 - 8,460 10,384 11,487 7,989 9,831 9,904 10,321
Guizhou Hengfeng - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21,102 16,703
Hebei China Fortune - - - - - - - - - - - - 18,469 18,054 16,029
Henan Jianye - - - 16,857 16,267 19,255 18,630 16,334 17,526 - 18,390 20,207 17,282 18,933 18,402
Jiangsu Suning - - - - - 15,976 10,667 17,170 31,163 28,808 24,349 26,858 38,992 32,697 32,508
Liaoning Whowin 7,727 11,000 6,929 15,929 11,733 - 10,100 19,621 18,638 20,850 12,781 12,788 22,506 12,429 -
Qingdao Jonoon 4,645 4,500 6,071 7,179 6,600 8,774 6,247 8,464 9,538 8,284 - - - - -
Shandong Luneng Taishan 23,636 26,000 30,679 22,607 26,501 17,015 15,901 12,112 20,148 27,683 23,931 22,559 18,932 30,283 24,785
Shanghai Greenland Shenhua 13,636 12,462 12,786 11,393 11,510 12,627 12,963 9,828 14,761 12,739 15,417 19,506 22,690 19,021 21,480
Shanghai Shenxin - - - - - - 11,680 10,462 11,597 8,559 10,115 7,028 - - -
Shanghai SIPG - - - - - - - - - 10,161 12,460 26,381 28,040 29,174 21,631
Shanghai United - 4,885 2,193 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Shenzhen F.C. 10,364 2,423 10,071 13,000 6,400 13,460 12,439 10,277 - - - - - - -
Shijiazhuang Ever Bright - - - - - - - - - - - 25,070 22,523 - -
Sichuan Guancheng 5,545 5,477 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tianjin Quanjian - - - - - - - - - - - - - 24,877 19,695
Tianjin Teda 13,182 16,462 18,071 15,429 14,007 14,554 14,757 18,242 14,175 16,577 17,190 19,661 21,740 14,531 18,487
Wuhan Guanggu - 15,654 10,500 13,179 12,556 - - - - - - - - - -
Wuhan Zall - - - - - - - - - 14,403 - - - - -
Xiamen Lanshi - - 8,071 8,036 - - - - - - - - - - -
Yanbian Funde - - - - - - - - - - - - 19,304 18,058 -
Zhejiang Greentown - - - 19,571 12,188 14,790 14,550 8,586 10,563 14,164 13,766 12,566 11,723 - -
Zhejiang Yiteng - - - - - - - - - - 26,126 - - - -
Whole season 10,838 10,284 10,611 15,112 13,444 16,059 14,581 17,651 18,740 18,571 18,986 22,193 24,159 23,766 24,107

Individual game highest attendance records

Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Stadium Date
1 Jiangsu Sainty 1–1 Guangzhou Evergrande 65,769 Nanjing Olympic Stadium October 20, 2012
2 Jiangsu Sainty 1–2 Guangzhou Evergrande 58,792 Nanjing Olympic Stadium July 14, 2013
3 Beijing Sinobo Guo'an 1–1 Shandong Luneng Taishan 56,544 Worker's Stadium August 5, 2018
4 Guangzhou Evergrande 1–0 Guangzhou R&F 56,300 Tianhe Stadium August 25, 2013
5 Beijing Sinobo Guo'an 2–2 Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 56,211 Worker's Stadium April 22, 2018
6 Beijing Guo'an 4–0 Hangzhou Greentown 54,116 Worker's Stadium October 31, 2009
7 Beijing Sinobo Guo'an 2–0 Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 54,018 Worker's Stadium July 10, 2017
8 Beijing Sinobo Guo'an 2–2 Shandong Luneng Taishan 53,906 Worker's Stadium August 5, 2017
9 Beijing Sinobo Guo'an 4–0 Beijing Renhe 53,887 Worker's Stadium March 31, 2018
10 Beijing Guo'an 0–2 Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 53,526 Worker's Stadium October 31, 2015

Awards

The official Chinese Super league annual awards are given to clubs, players, managers and referees based on their performance during the season.

Trophy

The Fire-god trophy is the official trophy award to CSL champions. The trophy was created by the Sculpture Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and donated by the official partner of the Chinese Super League, Hengyuanxiang Group, in 2004. It consists of a pure gold trophy and a nephrite plinth base. The lower part of the trophy is the model of a Great Wall beacon tower; on the upper part, on top of the rising beacon, is a football wrapped by the earth, while the base has the engraved years and names of each Chinese Super League winner since 2004. The trophy weighs 5.548 kilograms (12.23 lb). The trophy and plinth are 52 cm (20 in) tall.

The trophy is not awarded to the winning club permanently. After the award ceremony they are awarded a replica, and they are allowed to retain the genuine trophy for one year.

Player of the Year

It is also named the "Most Valuable Player".

Year Footballer Club Nationality
2004 Zhao Junzhe Liaoning Zhongyu  China
2005 Branko Jelić Beijing Guoan  Serbia
2006 Zheng Zhi Shandong Luneng Taishan  China
2007 Du Zhenyu Changchun Yatai  China
2008 Emil Martínez Shanghai Shenhua  Honduras
2009 Samuel Caballero Changchun Yatai  Honduras
2010 Duvier Riascos Shanghai Shenhua  Colombia
2011 Muriqui Guangzhou Evergrande  Brazil
2012 Cristian Dănălache Jiangsu Sainty  Romania
2013 Darío Conca Guangzhou Evergrande  Argentina
2014 Elkeson Guangzhou Evergrande  Brazil
2015 Ricardo Goulart Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao  Brazil
2016 Ricardo Goulart Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao  Brazil
2017 Eran Zahavi Guangzhou R&F  Israel

Golden Boot Award

This award is awarded to the top goalscorer of the league that year.

Year Top scorer Club Goals
2004 Ghana Kwame Ayew Inter Shanghai 17
2005 Serbia Branko Jelić Beijing Guoan 21
2006 China Li Jinyu Shandong Luneng Taishan 26
2007 China Li Jinyu Shandong Luneng Taishan 15
2008 Brazil Éber Luís Tianjin Teda 14
2009 Argentina Hernán Barcos
Honduras Luis Ramírez 		Shenzhen Asia Travel / Shanghai Shenhua
Guangzhou GPC 		17
2010 Colombia Duvier Riascos Shanghai Shenhua 20
2011 Brazil Muriqui Guangzhou Evergrande 16
2012 Romania Cristian Dănălache Jiangsu Sainty 23
2013 Brazil Elkeson Guangzhou Evergrande 24
2014 Brazil Elkeson Guangzhou Evergrande 28
2015 Brazil Aloísio Shandong Luneng Taishan 22
2016 Brazil Ricardo Goulart Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 19
2017 Israel Eran Zahavi Guangzhou R&F 27

There is also an award that is awarded to the top Chinese goalscorer of that season, which was first introduced in 2011.

Year Top scorer Club Goals
2011 Yu Hanchao Liaoning FC 12
2012 Wang Yongpo Shandong Luneng Taishan 10
2013 Wu Lei Shanghai East Asia 15
2014 Wu Lei Shanghai East Asia 12
2015 Wu Lei Shanghai SIPG 14
2016 Wu Lei Shanghai SIPG 14
2017 Wu Lei Shanghai SIPG 20

Manager of the Year

Year Manager Club Standings Nationality
2004 Zhu Guanghu Shenzhen Jianlibao Chinese Super League champions  China
2005 Vladimir Petrović Dalian Shide Chinese Super League champions; Chinese FA Cup winners  Serbia
2006 Ljubiša Tumbaković Shandong Luneng Taishan Chinese Super League champions; Chinese FA Cup winners  Serbia
2007 Gao Hongbo Changchun Yatai Chinese Super League champions  China
2008 Ljubiša Tumbaković Shandong Luneng Taishan Chinese Super League champions  Serbia
2009 Tang Yaodong Henan Jianye Chinese Super League third place  China
2010 Branko Ivanković Shandong Luneng Taishan Chinese Super League champions  Croatia
2011 Ma Lin Liaoning Whowin Chinese Super League third place  China
2012 Dragan Okuka Jiangsu Sainty Chinese Super League runners-up  Serbia
2013 Marcello Lippi Guangzhou Evergrande Chinese Super League champions; AFC Champions League winners  Italy
2014 Gregorio Manzano Beijing Guoan Chinese Super League runners-up  Spain
2015 Luiz Felipe Scolari Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Chinese Super League champions; AFC Champions League winners  Brazil
2016 Luiz Felipe Scolari Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Chinese Super League champions; Chinese FA Cup winners  Brazil
2017 Fabio Cannavaro Tianjin Quanjian Chinese Super League 3rd place  Italy

Youth Player of the Year

Year Footballer Club
2004 Chen Tao Shenyang Ginde
2005 Hao Junmin Tianjin Teda
2006 Wang Dalei Shanghai Liancheng
2007 Hao Junmin Tianjin Teda
2008 Huang Bowen Beijing Guoan
2009 Deng Zhuoxiang Jiangsu Sainty
2010 Zheng Zheng Shandong Luneng Taishan
2011 Song Wenjie Qingdao Jonoon
2012 Zhang Xizhe Beijing Guoan
2013 Jin Jingdao Shandong Luneng Taishan
2014 Liu Binbin Shandong Luneng Taishan
2015 Vacancy[21]
2016 Li Xiaoming Henan Jianye
2017 Hu Jinghang Henan Jianye

There is also an award that is awarded to the U-23 player of the year, which was first introduced in 2017.

Year Footballer Club
2017 Huang Zhengyu Guangzhou R&F

Goalkeeper of the Year

Year Footballer Club
2012 Deng Xiaofei Jiangsu Sainty
2013 Zeng Cheng Guangzhou Evergrande
2014 Wang Dalei Shandong Luneng Taishan
2015 Zeng Cheng Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao
2016 Zeng Cheng Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao
2017 Yan Junling Shanghai SIPG

Sponsors

Title sponsor

The current official title sponsor of the Chinese Super League is Ping'an Insurance, under the second sponsor deal between CSL and Ping'an from 2018 through 2022.

Sponsorships
Season Sponsor Annual value Official league name
2004 Siemens Mobile €8 million Siemens Mobile Chinese Super League
2005 No sponsor Chinese Football Association Super League
2006 IPhox €6 million Iphox Chinese Super League
2007 Kingway Beer ￥36 million[22] Kingway Beer Chinese Super League
2008 ￥38 million Kingway Beer Chinese Super League
2009 Pirelli €5 million[23] Pirelli Chinese Super League
2010 €5 million Pirelli Chinese Super League
2011 Wanda Plaza ￥65 million[24] Wanda Plaza Chinese Super League
2012 ￥65 million Wanda Plaza Chinese Super League
2013 ￥65 million Wanda Plaza Chinese Super League
2014 Ping An Insurance ￥150 million[25] China Ping'an Chinese Super League
2015 ￥165 million China Ping'an Chinese Super League
2016 ￥181.5 million China Ping'an Chinese Super League
2017 ￥199.65 million China Ping'an Chinese Super League
2018 ￥200 million China Ping'an Chinese Super League

Partners and suppliers

As well as sponsorship for the league itself, the Chinese Super League has a number of official partners and suppliers. The official equipment supplier for the league is Nike who have had the contract since the 2005 season. According to data published by Imedia Culture Communication Co., Ltd, the sponsor value from official partners and suppliers of Chinese Super League reaches 600 million Yuan in 2017 season.[26]

The following table shows the partners and suppliers of the Chinese Super League. Bold denotes current sponsor.

Company Duration
Nike 2005-2019
DHL 2014-2020
Shell 2014-2019
TAG Heuer 2016-2019
Fengkuang.cn 2017-2022
Tsingtao Laoshan Beer 2017-2021
Absen LED 2017-2020
ImagineChina 2017-2019
Ganten 2017-
Tmall 2018-2022
SAIC Motor 2018-2020
Eastroc Super Drink 2018-2019
JD.com 2010 2013-2017
Ford 2014-2017
Red Bull 2015-2017
Yanghe 2017
Ledman Solar 2011-2016
Carlsberg 2013-2016
Samsung 2013-2014
Huiyuan Juice 2014
China Auto Rental 2013
SDLG 2011-2013
Harbin Beer 2011-2012
Shinery Motor 2009-2010
Frestech 2010
Canon 2004-2008
CP-Freda 2004-2006
Hengyuanxiang 2004-2006
Hyundai Motors 2004-2005

Media coverage

China

The first broadcast rights holders of the rebranded Chinese Super League was the Shanghai Media Group (SMG), in September 2003 they signed the contract for 2004 to 2006 season.[27] The second SMG contract was signed in February 2007 for the five-year period from 2007 to 2011.[28]

CCTV acquired the CSL Television rights in 2012, and they held the rights until 2015 under annual contract,[29] CSL was broadcast in CCTV's public cable TV channel CCTV5 and CCTV5+. however, the Sateliite TV rights was sold to Cloud Media from 2014 to 2017.

Starting from the 2016 Season The Chinese Super League sold its television rights on a collective basis. However, it benefits CSL clubs almost equally according to CSL commercial contracts. The money is divided into three parts: 10% reserved for the Chinese football association and CSL company, which is paid out as facilities fees and management expenses, as to the remaining 90%, 81% of them is divided equally between the clubs; and 9% is awarded on a merit basis based on final league position.[30]

The current media rights holder is the China Sports Media Co., Ltd. (CSM, simplified Chinese: 体奥动力，pinyin: tǐ ào dòng lì ), CSM bought the rights for five seasons (2016-2020) for 8 billion yuan in October 2015. In January 24, 2018, The CSL and CSM reached an agreement to extend the original five-year contract to a 10-year one(2016-2025) and to raise the price to 11 billion yuan, about 1.73 billion dollars according to the exchange rate then prevailing.[31]

Worldwide

Outside of China, currently IMG holds the global media rights to the Chinese Super League. The first contract was signed in 2016 for two seasons,[32] and in 2018 IMG and CSM has sealed a three-year extension.[33] The CSL is now broadcasting in 96 countries across the world.[34] In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Sky Sports shows two matches a week starting from 2016 under a three-year contract.[35] In Spain one match is shown per week through beIN Sports (Spain).[36] In France, CSL is broadcast through SFR Sport Europe. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, broadcast rights to the CSL are jointly owned by sportdigital[37] and DAZN Europe. DAZN also shows CSL matches to Japan on DAZN Japan. Foxsports shows CSL matches in Italy.[38] In South America, Bandsports holds Brazilian CSL rights,[39] while Foxsports shows CSL to other South American countries. In India, the matches are broadcast live on DSports.[40] In Africa, StarTimes holds CSL rights for Sub-Saharan Nations.

As of Apr 2018, the main broadcasters of the CSL through the world are listed in the following table:

Country Network
 Macau TDM HD
 Japan DAZN Japan
 Armenia
 Azerbaijan
 Belarus
 Estonia
 Kazakhstan
 Kyrgyzstan
 Latvia
 Lithuania
 Moldova
 Russia
 Tajikistan
 Turkmenistan
 Uzbekistan		 Setanta Sports Eurasia
 Georgia Silk Sport
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
 North Macedonia
 Montenegro
 Serbia
 Croatia
 Slovenia		 SportKlub
 United Kingdom
 Ireland		 Sky Sports
 Israel Sport 1
 Vietnam K+ PC
 Singapore
 Malaysia		 Starhub SuperSports
 Indonesia Super Soccer TV (starts 2018)
 France
 Belgium
 Luxembourg		 SFR Sport 2
 Portugal A Bola TV
 Germany
 Switzerland
 Austria		 DAZN, Sportdigital
 Spain beIN Sports (Spain)
 Australia
 New Zealand		 OVO Mobile
 United States ESPN+
 Argentina
 Barbados
 Bolivia
 Chile
 Colombia
 Costa Rica
 Curaçao
 Dominican Republic
 Ecuador
 El Salvador
 Guatemala
 Honduras
 Italy
 Mexico
 Netherlands
 Nicaragua
 Panama
 Paraguay
 Peru
 San Marino
 Trinidad and Tobago
 Uruguay
 Vatican City
 Venezuela		 Fox Sports
 Turkey S Sports
 Brazil ESPN Brasil
 Poland Polsat Sport
 Bangladesh
 India
 Pakistan
 Maldives		 Neo prime, Discovery Sports
 Burundi
 Republic of the Congo
 Ghana
 Guinea
 Kenya
 Mozambique
 Nigeria
 Rwanda
 South Africa
 Tanzania
 Uganda		 Startimes Sports Life
 Middle East and North Africa Dubai Sports
Southeast Asia LeSports

Reserve league and Elite league

In early years the reserve league was open to all of the reserve teams from the Chinese Super League, China League One, and China League Two clubs. In 2011, the lower leagues started their own reserve league. The CSL reserve league strictly allows CSL clubs to compete, it is played at the next day of the regular league, also in home and away format, since 2018, the reserve league is held in the same venue of the regular league.

Starts from 2014 and until 2017, an elite league was held under the reserve league, it was restricted to players who is between 17 and 19 years old.

Season Reserve Champions Elite Champions
2004 Shanghai Shenhua Not Held
2005 Not Held Not Held
2006 Shandong Luneng Taishan Not Held
2007 Tianjin Teda Not Held
2008 Wuhan Guanggu Not Held
2009 Not Held Not Held
2010 Shandong Luneng Taishan Not Held
2011 Shandong Luneng Taishan Not Held
2012 Shandong Luneng Taishan Not Held
2013 Shandong Luneng Taishan Not Held
2014 Shandong Luneng Taishan Shanghai Shenhua
2015 Shandong Luneng Taishan Hangzhou Greentown
2016 Shanghai SIPG Jiangsu Suning
2017 Shandong Luneng Taishan Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao
2018 Jiangsu Suning Not Held

Youth development and Youth super league

Since the inception of the CSL, the CFA has required all of its clubs to operate youth development, yet it was not a strict criteria until 2018. In the CSL club criteria created in 2017, clubs who could not meet the youth development programme criteria will be relegated to lower leagues.

According to the CSL club criteria, the youth teams of CSL clubs must have their own training center, coaching staff, and medical group, and a minimum of 15% of club budgets must be invested into youth programmes. CSL clubs are required to have 5 youth level teams at ages U19, U17, U15, U14 and U13. Clubs must have youth academies and introduce grassroots football plans to cooperate with local football associations, school and social corporations.

In 2017 the Youth League system was officially rebranded as Youth Super League. YSL is open to all the youth teams of all professional clubs, selected football academies and local FA training teams in China. Since 2018 the U19 Youth Super league is played with two groups of 18, a total of 36 clubs. Clubs plays home and away season with promotion and relegation introduced. The U17 and U15 Youth Super Leagues play in six regional leagues with 76 and 77 teams respectively. The U14 and U13 Youth Super leagues play in five regional leagues with 40 and 45 teams respectively.[41]

Besides the Youth Super League, there are also other tournaments for youth teams across China, including Youth Championship plays in pre-season, Youth FA cup runs during the Youth Super League fixture, and Youth Champions Cup plays in off-season.

Season U-19 Champions U-18 Champions U-17 Champions U-16 Champions U-15 Champions U-14 Champions U-13 Champions
2004[42] Shanghai Shenhua Not Held Shandong Luneng Taishan Not Held Shandong Luneng Taishan Not Held Not Held
2005 Shandong Luneng Taishan Shandong Luneng Taishan Shandong Luneng Taishan
2006 Beijing Guoan Shandong Luneng Taishan Shandong Luneng Taishan
2007 Chongqing Lifan Shandong Luneng Taishan Shandong Luneng Taishan
2008 Beijing Guoan Changchun Yatai Shandong Luneng Taishan
2009 Shandong Luneng Taishan Changchun Yatai Wuhan FA
2010 Not Held Shandong Luneng Taishan Shanghai Luckystar
2011[43] Beijing Guoan Not Held Shanghai FA Not Held Hubei FA Not Held Shanghai Genbao
2012[44] Jiangsu FA Not Held Liaoning FA Not Held Guangzhou FA Not Held Shanghai Genbao
2013 Henan Jianye Not Held Jiangsu FA Not Held Shandong Luneng Taishan Not Held Not Held
2014 Shanghai Shenhua Not Held Guangzhou R&F Not Held Henan Jianye Shanghai Genbao Not Held
2015 Not Held Guangdong FA Not Held Jiangsu FA Shandong Luneng Taishan Not Held Shandong Luneng Taishan
2016 Shaanxi FA Not Held Jiangsu FA Not Held Shandong Luneng Taishan Shandong Luneng Taishan Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao
2017[45] Not Held Shandong Luneng Taishan Not Held Shandong Luneng Taishan Shandong Luneng Taishan Changchun Yatai Shandong Luneng Taishan
2018 Shanghai SIPG Not Held Shanghai Greenland Shenhua Not Held Hubei FA Shandong Luneng Taishan Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 1852 games ended up with a draw, resulting up with 3,704 points

References

  1. ^ "Soccer-Ping An extends Chinese football sponsorship amid boom in sport". Reuters. 2017-05-22. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
  2. ^ 2016 League Overview FootyStats
  3. ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking". Asian Football Association. March 2018.
  4. ^ "李毓毅透露联赛扩军计划 未来或将有118家俱乐部". 17 November 2018.
  5. ^ "China's Decade of Professional Soccer". China.org.cn. Retrieved 16 December 2003.
  6. ^ "我的这五年 阎世铎在足球管理中心任期大事记". Retrieved 18 February 2005.
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Template:Top level men's association football leagues around the world

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