Chinese Super League

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This article is about the football league. For the table tennis league, see China Table Tennis Super League.
Chinese Super League (CSL)
File:Chinese Super League Logo.png
Founded2004
Country China
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toChina League One
Domestic cup(s)Chinese FA Cup
International cup(s)AFC Champions League
(4 spots)
Current championsGuangzhou Evergrande
(2011, 1st title)
Most championshipsShandong Luneng
(3 titles)
WebsiteCSL.sina.com.cn
Current: 2012 Chinese Super League

The Chinese Football Association Super League (Chinese: 中国足球协会超级联赛; pinyin: Zhōngguó Zúqiú Xiéhuì Chāojí Liánsài), commonly known as Chinese Super League (中超联赛) or CSL, currently known as the Wanda Plaza Chinese Football Association Super League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest tier of professional association football in China, operating under the auspices of the Chinese Football Association (CFA).

The 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 the inaugural year, the league has been expanding. There are 16 teams in the current season. The title has been won by six teams: Shenzhen Jianlibao, Dalian Shide, Shandong Luneng, Changchun Yatai, Beijing Guoan,and Guangzhou Evergrande. The current Super League champions are Guangzhou Evergrande.

Overview

Unlike in many top European leagues, the CSL starts in February or March (spring in China) and ends in November or December (early winter). In each season, each club plays each of the other clubs twice, once at home and another away. The current system, with 16 clubs in the Super League, so the teams played 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 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 3rd or higher, 4th place in the league will take the Champions League spot.

Foreign players

Main article: List of foreign Chinese Super League players
Muriqui plays for Guangzhou Evergrande

Professional footballers in China receive relatively high salaries both when compared to other Chinese sports leagues and football leagues in other countries. As a result, numerous players from Serbia, Brazil, Honduras, and other Latin American regions make up the foreign players in the Chinese league. The league has rules, however, restricting the number of foreign players strictly to five per team, including a slot for a player from AFC countries. A team could use a maximum of four 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.

Players from Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese Taipei are deemed native players in CSL. Hong Kong players were considered foreigners at the beginning of 2009 but the league hold back the change in summer transfer.[clarification needed] From 2010 season, players from Hong Kong Macau and Taiwan were not considered foreigners in CSL matches, but will be regarded as foreigners in AFC competitions.

Season Squad Per match Note
1994–2000 3 3
2001–2003 4 3 From 2001, foreign goalkeepers were restricted in play the match.[clarification needed]
2004–2006 3 2 From 2006, Hong Kong players were not considered foreigners.[clarification needed]
2007–2008 4 3
2009– 4+1 3+1 "+1" is Asian quota.[clarification needed]

History

For history of Chinese professional club association football before the inception of the Chinese Super League in 2004, see Chinese Jia-A League.

In 1994 the Chinese National Football Jia A League became the country's first professional football league. On October 29, 2000, Yan Shiduo, Vice-president of the Chinese Football Association, talked about setting up a new Professional League System. In 2002 the CFA made a decision to establish the China Super League, which started in 2004.

Compared to 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 programme at every club. The second division, Jia B, with the new name China League, was also re-established under a new system. Besides the regular professional league, the CSL also has a reserve league, U-19 League, U-17 League and U-15 League.

Beijing Guoan v Shaanxi Baorong at Fengtai Stadium, 2007

The CSL and China League'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.[citation needed]

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. After 1998[clarification needed] scandals like match fixing, gambling and black whistle[clarification needed] were uncovered. This resulted in loss of interest in the domestic game, low attendances and great financial losses.

The original plan was to have one relegation and two promotions for the 2004 season and 2005 season, thus increasing the number of teams in 2006 to 14. But the FA's decisions caused the relegations to be cancelled for these 2 years.[clarification needed]

For the 2005 season, the league expanded to 14 teams after Wuhan Huanghelou and Zhuhai Zhongbang won promotion from the Jia League. 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 F.C.'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 F.C. pulled out of the league.

In 2008, the season started with 16 clubs participating for the first time, however Wuhan protested aganist the penalties decision[clarification needed] made by the CFA after a match against Beijing Guo'an, and announced its immediate withdrawal from the league, which finished the season with 15 clubs.

Shenzhen Hongzuan v Henan Jianye in 2009

Since 2009 the league has run with 16 stable clubs participating in each year. Two are relegated to C-League 1, and two promoted from C-League division 1[clarification needed] 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 soccer gambling, match-fixing and corruption, and former CFA vice presidents Xie Yalong, Nan Yong and Yang Yimin were arrested.[1]

In 2011, the anti-corruption movement had visibly improved the image of the CSL, with increases to attendance. Clubs such as Guangzhou Evergrande began investing heavily in foreign stars. One noticeable signing was Fluminense star player Darío Conca. Towards the end of 2011, Chelsea player Nicolas Anelka agreed to join Shanghai Shenhua. Former Fulham F.C. coach Jean Tigana entered as Shanghai's new coach for the 2012 season, and former Japanese National Team coach Takeshi Okada took up the reins as the new coach of Hangzhou Greentown.

Seasons and champions

For a list of champions in the Chinese professional football league, see Chinese football champions.

Season Winners Runners-up Third-place
2004 Shenzhen Jianlibao Shandong Luneng Inter Shanghai
2005 Dalian Shide Shanghai Shenhua Shandong Luneng
2006 Shandong Luneng Shanghai Shenhua Beijing Guoan
2007 Changchun Yatai Beijing Guoan Shandong Luneng
2008 Shandong Luneng Shanghai Shenhua Beijing Guoan
2009 Beijing Guoan Changchun Yatai Henan Construction
2010 Shandong Luneng Tianjin Teda Shanghai Shenhua
2011 Guangzhou Evergrande Beijing Guoan Liaoning Whowin

Current Super League clubs

Club Chinese name Home stadium Capacity Seasons in CSL Best finish Worst finish Spell in level 1 Top Division Titles (Overall) Top Division Titles (Professional) Last Title
Beijing Guoan 北京国安 Workers Stadium 66,161[2] 2004 to 2012 1st, 2009 7th, 2004 from 1991 8 1 2009
Changchun Yatai 长春亚泰 Development Area Stadium 25,000[3] 2006 to 2012 1st, 2007 9th, 2010 from 2006 1 1 2007
Dalian Aerbin 大连阿尔滨 Jinzhou Stadium 30,775[4] 2012 － － from 2012 0 0 －
Dalian Shide 大连实德 Jinzhou Stadium 30,775[5] 2004 to 2012 1st, 2005 14th, 2008 from 1990 8 8 2005
Guangzhou Evergrande 广州恒大 Tianhe Stadium 60,151[6] 2008 to 2009, 2011 to 2012 1st, 2011 9th, 2009 from 2011 1 1 2011
Guangzhou R&F F.C. 广州富力 Yuexiushan Stadium 30,000[7] 2004 to 2010，2012 8th, 2004 16th, 2010 from 2012 0 0 －
Guizhou Renhe 贵州人和 Guiyang Olympic Sports Center 51,636[8] 2004 to 2012 3rd, 2004 13th, 2007 from 2002 0 0 －
Hangzhou Greentown 杭州绿城 Yellow Dragon Sports Center 52,672[9] 2007 to 2012 4th, 2010 15th, 2009 from 2007 0 0 －
Henan Construction 河南建业 Hanghai Stadium 29,860[10] 2007 to 2012 3rd, 2009 13th, 2011 from 2007 0 0 －
Jiangsu Sainty 江苏舜天 Nanjing Olympic Sports Center 61,443 2009 to 2012 4th, 2011 11th, 2010 from 2009 0 0 －
Liaoning Whowin 辽宁宏运 Tiexi New District Sports Center 30,000 2004 to 2008, 2010 to 2012 3rd, 2011 15th, 2008 from 2010 8 0 1993
Qingdao Jonoon 青岛中能 Qingdao Tiantai Stadium 20,525[11] 2004 to 2012 6th, 2011 14th, 2006, 2010 from 1997 0 0 －
Shandong Luneng 山东鲁能 Shandong Provincial Stadium 43,700[12] 2004 to 2012 1st, 2006, 2008, 2010 4th, 2009 from 1994 4 4 2010
Shanghai Shenhua 上海申花 Hongkou Football Stadium 33,060[13] 2004 to 2012 2nd, 2005, 2006, 2008 11th, 2011 from 1982 4 2 2003
Shanghai Shenxin 上海申鑫 Jinshan Football Stadium 30,000[14] 2010 to 2012 13th, 2010 14th, 2011 from 2010 0 0 －
Tianjin Teda 天津泰达 TEDA Football Stadium 37,450[15] 2004 to 2012 2nd, 2010 10th, 2011 from 1999 2 0 1980

Attendances

This table lists clubs' average attendances, 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
Beijing Guoan 10,864 18,923 13,571 21,571 14,641 36,805 33,342 40,397
Changchun Yatai - - 8,607 16,429 5,797 12,179 10,067 13,835
Chongqing Lifan 15,727 5,731 6,536 - - 11,440 11,433 -
Chengdu Blades - - - - 12,378 11,873 - 6,443
Dalian Shide 11,273 14,000 5,043 10,286 7,900 16,613 12,307 17,148
Guangzhou Evergrande - - - - 19,624 20,057 – 45,666
Guangzhou R&F 5,000 2,077 2,750 10,571 6,645 8,498 10,152 -
Guizhou Renhe 8,455 4,385 17,286 24,643 24,625 23,026 28,053 27,836
Hangzhou Greentown - - - 19,571 12,188 14,790 14,550 8,586
Henan Jianye - - - 16,857 16,267 19,255 18,630 16,334
Jiangsu Sainty 15,976 10,667 17,170
Liaoning Whowin 7,727 11,000 6,929 15,929 11,733 - 10,100 19,621
Qingdao Jonoon 4,645 4,500 6,071 7,179 6,600 8,774 6,247 8,464
Shandong Luneng Taishan 23,636 26,000 30,679 22,607 26,501 17,015 15,901 12,112
Shanghai Shenhua 13,636 12,462 12,786 11,393 11,510 12,627 12,963 9,828
Shanghai Shenxin - - - - - - 11,680 10,462
Shanghai United - 4,885 2,193 - - - - -
Shenzhen Ruby 10,364 2,423 10,071 13,000 6,400 13,460 12,439 10,277
Sichuan Guancheng 5,545 5,477 - - - - - -
Tianjin Teda 13,182 16,462 18,071 15,429 14,007 14,554 14,757 18,242
Wuhan Guanggu - 15,654 10,500 13,179 12,556 - - -
Xiamen Lanshi - - 8,071 8,036 - - - -
Whole season 10,838 10,284 10,611 15,112 13,444 16,059 14,581 17,651

Awards

The Official CSL Annual Awards given to players, managers and refrees based on their performance during the season. It now includes:

  • Mr. Football League Golden Ball awards, also called "MVP awards" or "Mr. China Football awards" by some media
  • Top Scorer Golden Boot awards
  • Top Scorer for domestic players awards
  • Referee of the year Golden Whistle awards
  • Manager of the year awards
  • Youth player of the year awards

Most Valuable Player of the League

Named the "Mr. Football League Golden Ball awards"

Year Footballer Club Nationality
2004 Zhao Junzhe Liaoning Zhongyu  China
2005 Branko Jelic Beijing Guoan  Serbia
2006 Zheng Zhi Shandong Luneng  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

Top scorers

Top Scorer of the League, traditionally awarded the "Golden Boots Award"

Season Top scorer Club Goals
2004 Ghana Kwame Ayew Inter Shanghai 17
2005 Serbia Branko Jelić Beijing Guoan 21
2006 China Li Jinyu Shandong Luneng 26
2007 China Li Jinyu Shandong Luneng 15
2008 Brazil Éber Luís Tianjin Teda 14
2009 Argentina Hernán Barcos
Honduras Luis Ramírez 		Shenzhen Asia Travel
Guangzhou GPC 		17
2010 Colombia Duvier Riascos Shanghai Shenhua 20
2011 Brazil Muriqui Guangzhou Evergrande 16

There is also the Top Scorer Chinese players award, which was introduced in 2011

Season Top scorer Club Goals
2011 China Yu Hanchao Liaoning Whowin 12

Manager of the year

This award does not necessarily goes to the manager of the champions.

Year Manager Club Standings Nationality
2004 Zhu Guanghu Shenzhen Jianlibao Chinese Super League Champions  China
2005 Vladimir Petrovic Pizon Dalian Shide Chinese Super League Champions; Chinese FA Cup Winners  Serbia
2006 Ljubisa Tumbakovic Shandong Luneng Chinese Super League Champions; Chinese FA Cup Winners  Serbia
2007 Gao Hongbo Changchun Yatai Chinese Super League Champions  China
2008 Ljubisa Tumbakovic Shandong Luneng Chinese Super League Champions  Serbia
2009 Tang Yaodong Henan Jianye Chinese Super League 3rd place  China
2010 Branko Ivankovic Shandong Luneng Chinese Super League Champions  Croatia
2011 Ma Lin Liaoning Whowin Chinese Super League 3rd place  China

Youth player of the year

Year Footballer Club Nationality
2004 Chen Tao Shenyang Ginde  China
2005 Hao Junmin Tianjin Teda  China
2006 Wang Dalei Shanghai Liancheng  China
2007 Hao Junmin Tianjin Teda  China
2008 Huang Bowen Beijing Guoan  China
2009 Deng Zhuoxiang Jiangsu Sainty  China
2010 Zheng Zheng Shandong Luneng  China
2011 Song Wenjie Qingdao Jonoon  China

Sponsors

The first title sponsor of the league was Siemens. Following a controversial first season, Siemens did not renew its multi-million dollar sponsorship of the league. The start of the second season in 2005 had to be delayed a month in order to find new sponsors. When no title sponsor was found the League was simply called the Chinese Football Association Super League.

Reserve League

In the Jia-A period, the reserve League was called the "Olympic League" or the "Coca-Cola League". There was no reserve league in the 2004 or 2005 CSL seasons -- it resumed in 2006. The league opens to all of the reserve teams from CSL and China League clubs.

Season Winners
2006 Shandong Luneng
2007 Tianjin Teda
2008 Wuhan Optics Valley
2010 Shandong Luneng
2011 Shandong Luneng

Youth Leagues

Like the Reserve League, the Adidas Youth League is open to the youth teams of all professional clubs. It was called the Nike League in 2005.

Season U-19 Champions U-17 Champions U-15 Champions
2004 Shanghai Shenhua Shandong Luneng Shandong Luneng
2005 Shandong Luneng Shandong Luneng Shandong Luneng
2006 Beijing Guoan Shandong Luneng Shandong Luneng
2007 Chongqing Lifan Shandong Luneng Shandong Luneng
2008 Beijing Guoan Changchun Yatai Shandong Luneng
2009 Shandong Luneng Changchun Yatai Wuhan FA
2010 Defunct Shandong Luneng Shanghai Luckystar
2011 Beijing Guo'an Shanghai FA Hubei FA

See also

References

  1. ^ http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sports/2011-12/21/c_131317940.htm
  2. ^ 北京工人体育场全面改造 可容纳62000名观众_深圳新闻网新闻中心
  3. ^ 长春亚泰足球俱乐部主场移迁经开体育场
  4. ^ 大连队新球场选址确定 欲建全国最现代化的球场-搜狐体育
  5. ^ 大连队新球场选址确定 欲建全国最现代化的球场-搜狐体育
  6. ^ 天河体育中心变身体育公园
  7. ^ 亚运会场馆介绍-越秀山体育场
  8. ^ 贵阳奥林匹克体育中心_百度百科
  9. ^ 2007女足世界杯赛场巡礼 - FIFA 2007中国女足世界杯 - 华奥星空网
  10. ^ 郑州航海体育场整体国有产权转让公告
  11. ^ 天泰体育场_百度百科
  12. ^ 山东省体育中心体育场
  13. ^ :::: 上海市地方志办公室 ::::
  14. ^ :::: 上海市金山区人民政府网站 ::::
  15. ^ 天津泰达足球场_百度百科

External links

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