Chinese Super League Overview

The China Super League, commonly known as the CSL, is the top division of professional men’s football in China. It is operated by the Chinese FA, and was created to replace the struggling Chinese Football Association Jia A League in 1994. It is a straightforward league competition, and 16 teams are competing in the 2008 season. The reigning champions are Changchun Yatai.

The following year, the league planned to reach its target of 16 teams with the promotions of Xiamen Lanshi and Changchun Yatai from the Jia League. However, just 15 teams remained when Sichuan Guancheng withdrew before the start of the season. Meanwhile Shanghai Zobon changed owners, and became Shanghai United FC.

CSL History

The creation of the Chinese Super League was essentially a rebranding of the earlier top division – the Chinese Football Association Jia A League. This took place in 2004, and although the CSL was originally contested by only 12 teams, there are now 16 teams competing.

The initial seasons were quite controversial however. Having planned initially to use one relegation and two promotions for the first two seasons (to increase the number of teams to 16), the FA decided to then scrap relegation for this period. Chongqing Lifan eventually became the first team to be relegated after three consecutive last-placed finishes.

In 2005, the second season, the number of teams increased to 14, after Wuhan Huanghelou and Zhuhai Zhongbang won promotion. The Zhuhai team was then bought by the Shanghai Zhongbang company, and relocated to Shanghai, becoming Shanghai Zobon.

The following year, the league planned to reach its target of 16 teams with the promotions of Xiamen Lanshi and Changchun Yatai from the Jia League. However, just 15 teams remained when Sichuan Guancheng withdrew before the start of the season. Meanwhile Shanghai Zobon changed owners, and became Shanghai United FC.

In 2007, the league finally hoped to reach 16 teams with a single relegation and double promotion, but plans were once again sabotaged right before the season started. Zhu Jun, the owner of Shanghai United, bought into Shanghai Shenua, and merged the two teams together. Since Shenhua were a popular side with a large fanbase, he decided to maintain that identity, and so Shanghai United FC were removed from the league.

However after another single relegation and double promotion, the 2008 season looks set to go ahead with 16 teams.

CSL Clubs

The following teams are currently in the CSL: Beijing Guo'an, Changchun Yatai, Dalian Shide, Liaoning FC, Qingdao Zongneng, Shandong Luneng, Shanghai Shenhua, Changsha Ginde, Shenzhen Shangqingyin, Tianjin Teda, Wuhan Guanggu, Shaanxi Baorong, Zhejiang Lucheng, Henan Jianye, Guangzhou Pharmaceutical, Chengdu Blades.

Chinese Super League Ranking

League Format

With 15 teams in the league, each team plays the other team twice (home and away, for a total of 28 games, which equals to 210 games played overall in the season. At the end of each season, the two lowest placed teams are relegated into the Chinese Football Association Jia League, and replaced by the top two teams from there. The team finishing first are crowned champions. They, along with the winners of the Chinese FA Cup, qualify for the following year’s AFC Champions League. In the even of a team winning both the league and the cup, the additional Champions League spot goes to the runner-up in the league.

League Trophies

The title has so far been won by four different teams: Shenzhen Jianlibao, Dalian Shide, Shandong Luneng and Changchun Yatai (the current champions).

Recognition and Awards

Most CSL Goals of All Time

Most League Appearances

CSL Management

Sponsors

Kingway Beer – http://www.kingwaybeer.com/

Media Coverage

Important Links

http://csl.sports.cn

References