Chinese Super Leauge | |
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Country | ![]() |
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Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
Founded | 2004 |
Number of teams | 16 |
Relegation to | China League One |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Domestic cup(s) | Chinese FA Cup |
AFC (Asia) cup(s) | AFC Champions League |
Current champions | Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao, 6th title (2016) |
Most successful club | Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao (6 titles) |
Website | Official website |
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The Chinese Football Association Super League, commonly known as Chinese Super League (中超联赛) or CSL, currently known as the Ping An 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.
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 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 Chinese Super League 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.
Current clubs[]
Club | Chinese name | Home stadium | Capacity | Seasons in CSL | Best finish | Worst finish | Spell in level 1 |
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Beijing Guoan | 北京国安 | Workers Stadium | 66,000 | 2004 to 2017 | 1st, 2009 | 7th, 2004 | from 2004 |
Changchun Yatai | 长春亚泰 | Development Area Stadium | 25,000 | 2006 to 2017 | 1st, 2007 | 14th, 2013 | from 2006 |
Chongqing Lifan | 重庆力帆 | Chongqing Olympic Sports Center | 58,600 | 2004 to 2006, 2009 to 2010, 2015 to 2017 | 8th, 2015 | 16th, 2009 | from 2015 |
Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao | 广州恒大淘宝 | Tianhe Stadium | 58,500 | 2008 to 2009, 2011 to 2017 | 1st, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 | 9th, 2009 | from 2011 |
Guangzhou R&F | 广州富力 | Yuexiushan Stadium | 30,000 | 2004 to 2010, 2012 to 2017 | 3rd, 2014 | 16th, 2010 | from 2012 |
Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng | 贵州恒丰智诚 | Guiyang Olympic Sports Center | 52,888 | 2017 | from 2017 | ||
Hebei CFFC | 河北华夏幸福 | Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium | 33,572 | 2016 to 2017 | 7th, 2016 | from 2016 | |
Henan Jianye | 河南建业 | Zhengzhou Hanghai Stadium | 29,800 | 2007 to 2012, 2014 to 2017 | 3rd, 2009 | 16th, 2012 | from 2014 |
Jiangsu Suning | 江苏苏宁 | Nanjing Olympic Sports Center | 62,000 | 2009 to 2017 | 2nd, 2012 | 13th, 2013 | from 2009 |
Liaoning Whowin | 辽宁宏运 | Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium | 60,000 | 2004 to 2008, 2010 to 2017 | 3rd, 2011 | 15th, 2008 | from 2010 |
Shandong Luneng Taishan | 山东鲁能泰山 | Jinan Olympic Sports Luneng Stadium | 56,800 | 2004 to 2017 | 1st, 2006, 2008, 2010 | 14th, 2016 | from 2004 |
Shanghai Greenland Shenhua | 上海绿地申花 | Hongkou Football Stadium | 33,000 | 2004 to 2017 | 2nd, 2005, 2006, 2008 | 11th, 2011 | from 2004 |
Shanghai SIPG | 上海上港 | Shanghai Stadium | 56,800 | 2013 to 2017 | 2nd, 2015 | 9th, 2013 | from 2013 |
Tianjin Quanjian | 天津权健 | Haihe Educational Football Stadium | 30,000 | 2017 | from 2017 | ||
Tianjin Teda | 天津泰达 | Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium | 54,700 | 2004 to 2017 | 2nd, 2010 | 13th, 2015 | from 2004 |
Yanbian Funde | 延边富德 | Yanji Nationwide Fitness Centre Stadium | 30,000 | 2016 to 2017 | 9th, 2016 | from 2016 |
External links[]
- Official site of the Chinese Super League
- Official site of the Chinese Football Association
- RSSSF.com - China - List of Champions
Chinese Super League 2025 |
Beijing Guoan · Cangzhou Mighty Lions · Changchun Yatai · Chengdu Rongcheng · Dalian Yingbo · Henan · Qingdao Hainiu · Qingdao West Coast · Shandong Taishan · Shanghai Port · Shanghai Shenhua · Shenzhen Peng City · Tianjin Jinmen Tiger · Wuhan Three Towns · Yunnan Yukun · Zhejiang |
Template:Chinese Super League managers
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