Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao F.C.

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Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao
Guǎngzhōu Héngdà Táobǎo
广州恒大淘宝
200px
Full name Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Football Club
广州恒大淘宝足球俱乐部
Nickname(s) Southern China Tigers (华南虎)
Founded June 1954; 70 years ago (June 1954) (Semi-professional)
8 January 1993; 31 years ago (8 January 1993) (Professional)
Ground Tianhe Stadium
Ground Capacity 58,500
Owner Evergrande Real Estate (60%)
Alibaba (40%)
Chairman Kang Bing
Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari
League Chinese Super League
2015 Chinese Super League, 1st
Website Club home page
Current season
Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao F.C.
Simplified Chinese 广州恒大淘宝足球俱乐部
Traditional Chinese 廣州恆大淘寶足球俱樂部
Southern China Tigers
Chinese 华南虎

Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Football Club[1] is a professional Chinese football club that currently participates in the Chinese Super League under the license of the Chinese Football Association. The team is based in Guangzhou, Guangdong, and their home stadium is the Tianhe Stadium which has a seating capacity of 58,500. Their current majority shareholders are the Evergrande Real Estate Group (60%) and the e-commerce company Alibaba Group (40%).[2][3][4]

Originally founded in 1954, their biggest achievements were winning several second tier titles before they became professional in 1993 and achieved an upswing in results, leading to a runners-up spot in China's top tier. Unable to improve upon these results the club would go through a period of stagnation and then decline before they experienced a brief revival when they won the 2007 second division; however, in 2009 the club were embroiled in a match-fixing scandal. This saw them punished with relegation; however, the Evergrande Real Estate Group decided to purchase the club and pumped significant funds into the team which saw them immediately win promotion as well as gain their first ever top tier title in the following campaign in the 2011 season. The club is the first and only Chinese football club to win AFC Champions League twice, in 2013 and 2015 respectively.[5][6] The club is also the first ever Chinese club to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup, making its first appearance in 2013.

History

In June 1954, the local Guangzhou sports body founded Guangzhou F.C. to take part in the recently formed Chinese national football league and entered the club in the 1955 league season where they named Luo Dizhi as their first manager who guided them to an eighth spot finish in their debut campaign.[7] Unfortunately for Guangzhou, the league had grown to incorporate a second tier and their debut season performance final standing would see them relegated to the second division. Guangzhou would nevertheless go on to win the division championship, however the Chinese Football Association decided to restructure the league at the beginning of the 1957 season and Guangzhou were denied promotion.[8] Despite this, Luo Rongman managed the team to win the 1958 second division title; however, the club were unable to gain promotion because this time they went into receivership and were not officially re-established until April 1961 where they were allowed to take part in the top tier. Back within the top division Guangzhou often struggled within the league and were once again relegated to the second tier at the end of the 1963 league season where they remained until 1966 when the Cultural Revolution halted football in China.[9]

When the Chinese football league restarted, Guangzhou took the unusual step of abstaining from the competition and instead on 26 October 1977 brought Luo Rongman to manage in their development of their youth team.[10] The team would play within the National Youth League until 1980 when it was decided that they were mature enough to play in the football league pyramid and started in the recently created third division. The club's youth team development would immediately pay-off and players such as Mai Chao, Zhao Dayu and later Wu Qunli would all rapidly rise into Chinese international footballers that would see Guangzhou gain successive promotions until they reached the top tier. The harsh realities of the top division would hit the young players when at the end of the 1982 league season Guangzhou were relegated at the end of the campaign. With the club able to hold on to their young talent they would eventually return to the top division at the end of the 1984 season, via the Chinese FA Cup. With this promotion on 1 October 1984, the club would be the first Chinese team to gain sponsorship when Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. signed a $200,000 annual deal with the club.[11]

Throughout the 1990s, the Chinese Football Association were demanding more professionalism from their football teams and while many were semi-professional, Guangzhou would be one of the first fully professional football clubs in China after the Apollo Group took over the club on 8 January 1993. Initially the investment would aid the manager Zhou Suian to help create a competitive squad and with Hu Zhijun going on to win the top goalscoring award Guangzhou were able to gain a runners-up spot at the 1994 league season.[12] The following season Zhou Suian left the team despite having twice guided the club to a runners-up position within the league as well as a runners up spot against Shanghai in the 1991 Chinese FA Cup. After his exit, the club were unable to replicate the same results and when influential international footballers Peng Weiguo and Hu Zhijun left the club, the team would go into free fall and were relegated at the end of the 1998 league season.[13] With the management concerned about the team's insipid display, an investigation was launched which discovered that Wen Junwu and three other players were in collusion with gambling groups and were immediately expelled from the club.[14] In 2001, the Guangzhou Sports Bureau took over the club once again and with significant investment coming from the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd it was hoped that the club could push for promotion; however, the division was rocked by a match-fixing scandal involving Changchun Yatai, Chengdu Wuniu, Jiangsu Sainty and Zhejing Greentown saw Guangzhou's new sponsors Geely immediately pull their funding from the team to distant themselves from the bad publicity.[15] This would see the club go through a tough transitional period until the Sunray Cave Group took over the club in 2004 and started to invest money in hopes of pushing for promotion.[16] When the Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals group took over the club in 2006, they were able to realize the ambition of gaining promotion when the club won the 2007 division title and entry to the Chinese Super League.[17]

Guangzhou won China League One for the first time in 2007

In February 2010, Guangzhou was relegated back to the China League One in the fallout of a match-fixing scandal despite having achieved a ninth-place finish in the previous 2009 season.[18] The match in question was the 19 August 2006 league game against Shanxi Luhu, which saw Guangzhou win 5-1 when they were still playing in the China League One. It was discovered by the police that the Guangzhou general manager Yang Xu paid ¥200,000 to the opposing general manager Wang Po to secure a win at home and that Guangzhou's vice president's Wu Xiaodong and Xie Bin knew about it.[19] With the offending participants sentenced to jail for fraud, the club was put up for sale.[20] On 28 February 2010, Evergrande Real Estate Group took over the club for a fee of ¥100 million and Xu Jiayin, chairman of Evergrande Real Estate Group, said that they would pump more funds into the transfer market.[21] His first act was to sign in Chinese national team striker Gao Lin from Shanghai Shenhua for a reported fee of ¥6 million, then he replaced the previously existing head coach Peng Weiguo with former Beijing Guoan manager Lee Jang-Soo with no indication. In the 2010 summer transfer window, the club signed Sun Xiang, the first Chinese footballer to play in the UEFA Champions League with PSV Eindhoven, and Chinese national team captain Zheng Zhi on 28 June 2010. Two days later, on 30 June 2010, Guangzhou confirmed that they had signed Muriqui on a four-year deal from Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Atlético Mineiro with a domestic record fee of ¥23 million.[22] On 30 October 2010, Guangzhou successfully achieved League One champion for the second time and returned to Super League after a 3-1 win to Hunan Billows.[23]

During the 2011 season, Guangzhou Evergrande further strengthened its squad with the purchase of Argentinean Dario Conca and Brazilian Cléo.[24] Although the team was promoted to the Super League in the first year, they clinched the league title in late September 2011 although there were four games yet to play.[25] In March 2012, Guangzhou played and won their first ever AFC Champions League match, thrashing Korean champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 5-1.[26] In addition, Paraguayan Lucas Barrios left the German champions Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2012 to join Guangzhou Evergrande.[27] Marcello Lippi replaced Lee Jang-Soo as the head coach and brought in South Korean defender Kim Young-Gwon and Chinese midfielder Huang Bowen.[28] Guangzhou was knocked out of the 2012 AFC Champions League when they lost 5-4 on aggregate to Al-Ittihad in the quarterfinals.[29] They were the first Chinese side to reach the quarterfinals since 2006. During the 2012 season, Guangzhou won the league for the second time in a row, becoming the first team in China to win the Super League title twice in a row, while also securing the Chinese FA Cup and Super Cup to become double winners for 2012.[30]

In the 2013 season, Guangzhou Evergrande strengthened their squad by signing Chinese goalkeeper Zeng Cheng and Brazilian Elkeson. This proved to be beneficial to Guangzhou as they became the first team in China to win the Super League three times in a row. The club also won the 2013 AFC Champions League in the final against FC Seoul, after drawing 2-2 in the first leg in Seoul and 1-1 in the second leg in Guangzhou, becoming the first Chinese side to win the tournament on the away goals rule.[31] By winning the AFC Champions League, Guangzhou was assured a place in the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup, entering in the quarter-finals, beating the African champions Al Ahly 2–0. In the semi-finals, they were defeated by the European champions Bayern Munich 3-0. In the third place match, the club lost against South American champions Atletico Mineiro 3-2 and finished fourth place on the international stage.[32] Guangzhou won its fourth and fifth consecutive Chinese Super League titles in 2014 and 2015 respectively. On 21 November 2015, the club won its second continental championship, defeating Al Ahli 1-0 on aggregate in the 2015 AFC Champions League Final. In the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup, Guangzhou won 2-1 against Club América in the quarter-finals before losing 3-0 against FC Barcelona in the semi-finals.[33]

Ownership and naming history

Year Owner Club name Sponsored team name
1954–55 Central and Southern China Institute of Sports Central and Southern China Sports Institute Football Team Central and Southern China White
1955 Guangzhou
1956 Central and Southern China White
1956–57 Guangzhou Institute of Sports Guangzhou Institute of Sports Football Team
1958 Guangzhou Football Team
1959–61 Guangzhou Public Security Bureau Guangzhou Vanguard Football Team
1962–66 Guangzhou Sports Bureau Guangzhou Football Team
1977–79 Guangzhou Youth Football Team
1980–84 Guangzhou Football Team
1985–89 Guangzhou Baiyun
1989–93 Guangzhou Football Club
1993–00 Guangdong Apollo Group Guangzhou Apollo Football Club
2001–02 Guangzhou Sports Bureau Guangzhou Football Club Guangzhou Geely
2002–03 Guangzhou Xiangxue
2004–05 Sunray Cave Group Guangzhou Sunray Cave
2005–07 Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Guangzhou GPC Football Club
2007–08 Guangzhou GPC Zhongyi
2008–09 Guangzhou GPC Baiyunshan
2010 Guangzhou Sports Bureau Guangzhou Football Club
2010 Evergrande Real Estate Group Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club Guangzhou GAC
2011–14
2014– Evergrande Real Estate Group (50%→60%)
Alibaba Group (50%→40%)
Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Football Club

Crest history

Rivalries

When professionalism was established within the Chinese football leagues in 1994, it opened the door for more than one team within each region. This saw the establishment of Guangzhou Matsunichi which used to be the youth academy of Guangzhou F.C. but were sold off to Matsunichi Digital Holdings Limited.[34] Direct ties between these two teams also saw them share the Yuexiushan Stadium. In their first meeting in the first round of the 1995 Chinese FA Cup, Matsunichi beat Guangzhou F.C. 4–3 on aggregate.[35] For a brief period during the 1998 season, both teams were in the top tier with Matsunichi finishing higher than Guangzhou F.C.; however, the rivalry would reach its peak and subsequent conclusion during the 2000 season with both clubs in the second tier fighting relegation. On 15 July 2000, Guangzhou F.C. won 3–1 against Matsunichi which inevitability helped lead to Matsunichi's relegation, causing Matsunichi to disband at the end of the season.[36][37]

When Guangzhou R&F moved to the city of Guangzhou, they would soon form a derby with the Guangzhou Evergrande, which is often referred to as the Canton derby.[38] The first derby encounter between them occurred on 16 March 2012 in which Guangzhou R&F won 2–0.[39] The win gained significance because it was won at the club's previous stadium; however, despite this contention, the two club owners Xu Jiayin and Zhang Li don't view the derby with hostility, and in the return fixture, they were seen enjoying a meal together instead of watching the game.[40]

Current squad

As of 27 August 2015 [41]

First team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
2 China MF Liao Lisheng
3 China DF Mei Fang
4 China MF Zhang Jiaqi
5 China DF Zhang Linpeng
6 China DF Feng Xiaoting
7 Brazil FW Alan
8 Brazil MF Paulinho
9 Brazil FW Elkeson
10 China MF Zheng Zhi (captain)
11 Brazil MF Ricardo Goulart
12 China MF Wang Shangyuan
13 China GK Fang Jingqi
14 China GK Liu Weiguo
15 China DF Yi Teng
16 China MF Huang Bowen
17 China MF Liu Jian
No. Position Player
18 China FW Dong Xuesheng
19 China GK Zeng Cheng
20 China MF Yu Hanchao
21 China MF Zhao Xuri
22 China GK Li Shuai
23 China MF Yang Xin
24 China FW Liang Xueming
25 China DF Zou Zheng
26 China FW Wang Jingbin
27 China MF Zheng Long
28 South Korea DF Kim Young-gwon
29 China FW Gao Lin (vice captain)
33 China DF Rong Hao
34 China MF Wang Junhui
35 China DF Li Xuepeng
56 Brazil FW Robinho

Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
8 Brazil MF Renê Júnior
30 China DF Hu Bao
31 China MF Luo Jiacheng
32 China MF Ju Feng
36 China DF Liu Hao
37 China DF Wu Yuduo
40 China FW Hu Yangyang
41 China DF Gong Liangxuan
42 China GK Zhao Tianci
No. Position Player
43 China DF Wen Haojun
45 China MF Li Geng
47 China GK Liu Shibo
49 China MF Wang Rui
50 China MF Li Zhongyi
51 China MF Xu Li'ao
52 China DF Guan Haojin
54 China FW Gan Tiancheng
57 China DF Chen Zepeng

On loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
China DF Hu Bowen (at Qingdao Hainiu until 31 December 2015)
China DF Zhang Hongnan (at Shenzhen FC until 31 December 2015)
China MF Peng Xinli (at Chongqing Lifan until 31 December 2015)
China MF Li Yuanyi (at Leixões until 31 December 2015)
No. Position Player
Italy MF Alessandro Diamanti (at Watford until 30 June 2016)
China FW Shewket Yalqun (at Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard until 31 December 2015)
China FW Yang Chaosheng (at Liaoning Whowin until 31 December 2015)

Club officials

Coaching staff

Position Name
Head coach Brazil Luiz Felipe Scolari
Assistant coaches Brazil Flávio Murtosa
Brazil Ivo Wortmann
China Hao Wei
Goalkeeping coach Brazil Carlos Pracidelli
Fitness coach Brazil Darlan Schneider
Brazil Rudy Pracidelli
Reserve team coach China Hao Wei
Reserve team assistant coach China Pang Li
China Chang Weiwei
Reserve team goalkeeping coach China Chen Gang
Academy director / U-17 team coach Germany Marco Pezzaiuoli
Physiotherapist Brazil Feliciano Fontoura
Team doctor Brazil Gustavo Emilio Arcos Campos
China Wang Shucheng
Japan Kyoshi O

Managerial history

Non-professional club period (1954–1993)

 
Manager Period
China Luo Dizhi 1954–56
China Zeng Peifu 1956
China Zheng Deyao 1956
China Luo Rongman 1956–61
China Li Wenjun 1964
China Lin Xiaocai 1966–76
China Luo Rongman 1977
China Feng Meilu 1977
 
Manager Period
China Luo Rongman 1978–82
China Cai Tangyao 1983–84
China Chen Yiming 1985
China Qi Wusheng 1986–88
China Xie Zhiguang 1989
China Chen Yiming 1990
China Zhou Suian 1991–93

Professional club period (1994–present)

As of 20 December 2015 [42]
# Name Period Pld W D L GF GA GD Win% Honours
1 China Zhou Suian 2 July 1994 – 7 June 1995 29 13 7 9 40 34 +6 44.83
2 China Zhang Jingtian 8 June 1995 – 28 December 1995 16 6 5 5 27 24 +3 37.50
3 China Xie Zhiguang 1996 – 17 April 1996 1 0 1 0 0 0 +0 00.00
4 China Xian Dixiong 18 April 1996 – 1996 25 8 8 9 31 33 −2 32.00
5 China Chen Yiming January 1997 – 13 August 1997 17 3 8 6 11 16 −5 17.65
6 China Mai Chao 13 August 1997 – 12 June 1998 24 5 11 8 24 28 −4 20.83
7 China Chen Xirong 12 June 1998 – 4 May 1999 21 4 5 12 20 34 −14 19.05
8 China Zhao Dayu 1999 18 6 6 6 24 25 −1 33.33
9 Brazil Gildo Rodrigues January 2000 – 19 April 2000 5 0 1 4 2 9 −7 00.00
10 China Zhou Suian 19 April 2000 – 23 September 2000 18 6 6 6 25 20 +5 33.33
* Brazil Edson Tavares (caretaker) 13 November 2000 – 11 December 2000 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !
11 China Liu Kang 11 December 2000 – 25 July 2001 16 5 7 4 15 13 +2 31.25
12 China Zhou Suian 25 July 2001 – 2 September 2002 24 10 6 8 37 30 +7 41.67
13 China Wu Qunli 2 September 2002 – 19 December 2002 6 0 3 3 5 9 −4 00.00
14 China Zhou Suian 19 December 2002 – 18 February 2003 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !
15 China Mai Chao 18 February 2003 – 31 October 2005 91 41 33 17 144 86 +58 45.05
* Croatia Drago Mamić (caretaker) 25 November 2005 – 25 February 2006 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !
16 China Qi Wusheng 25 February 2006 – 31 December 2006 26 16 3 7 47 27 +20 61.54
17 China Shen Xiangfu 4 January 2007 – 30 November 2009 84 38 24 22 144 95 +49 45.24 2007 China League One
* China Peng Weiguo (caretaker) 1 December 2009 – 25 March 2010 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !
18 South Korea Lee Jang-Soo 25 March 2010 – 16 May 2012 73 49 17 7 164 65 +99 67.12 2010 China League One
2011 Chinese Super League
2012 Chinese FA Super Cup
19 Italy Marcello Lippi 17 May 2012 – 2 November 2014 126 82 23 21 281 121 +160 65.08 2012 Chinese Super League
2013 Chinese Super League
2014 Chinese Super League
2012 Chinese FA Cup
2013 AFC Champions League
20 Italy Fabio Cannavaro 5 November 2014 – 4 June 2015 23 11 7 5 46 28 +18 47.83
21 Brazil Luiz Felipe Scolari 4 June 2015 – present 26 16 8 2 48 22 +26 61.54 2015 Chinese Super League
2015 AFC Champions League

Club honours

All-time honours list including semi-professional period.[43][44]

Domestic

Leagues

Winners (5): 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Winners (5): 1956, 1958, 1981, 2007, 2010

Cups

Winners (1): 2012
Winners (1): 2012

International

Winners (2): 2013, 2015
Fourth place (2): 2013, 2015 [45]

Personal honours

Player Honor Season
China Mai Chao Player of the Year 1989
China Wu Qunli Player of the Year 1990
1993
China Zhou Suian Coach of the Year 1992
China Hu Zhijun Jia-A League Top Scorer 1994
Denmark Riffi Haddaoui Chinese FA Cup Top Scorer* 1997
Belarus Mikalay Ryndzyuk League One Top Scorer 2005
Honduras Luis Ramírez League One Top Scorer
Chinese Super League Top Scorer*
2007
2009
China Gao Lin League One Top Scorer 2010
Brazil Muriqui Chinese Football Association Footballer of the Year
Chinese Super League Top Scorer
Chinese FA Cup Top Scorer
2011
Brazil Cléo Chinese FA Super Cup Most Valuable Player 2012
Paraguay Lucas Barrios Chinese FA Cup Most Valuable Player
Italy Marcello Lippi Chinese FA Cup Best Coach
China Zheng Zhi AFC Player of the Year 2013
Brazil Elkeson Chinese Super League Top Scorer
Brazil Muriqui AFC Champions League Top Scorer
AFC Champions League Most Valuable Player
AFC Foreign Player of the Year
Argentina Darío Conca Chinese Football Association Footballer of the Year
Chinese FA Cup Most Valuable Player
China Zeng Cheng Chinese Football Association Goalkeeper of the Year
Italy Marcello Lippi Chinese Football Association Coach of the Year
Brazil Elkeson Chinese Football Association Footballer of the Year
Chinese Super League Top Scorer
2014
Brazil Ricardo Goulart Chinese Football Association Footballer of the Year
AFC Champions League Top Scorer
AFC Champions League Most Valuable Player
AFC Foreign Player of the Year
2015
China Zeng Cheng Chinese Football Association Goalkeeper of the Year
Brazil Luiz Felipe Scolari Chinese Football Association Coach of the Year
South Korea Kim Young-gwon Korea Football Association Footballer of the Year

(* shared)

Results

All-time league rankings

As of 20 December 2015 [46][47]
Year Div Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Pos. FA Cup Super Cup League Cup AFC Other Att./G Stadium
1955 1 10 3 1 6 12 33 −21 7 8
1956 2 8 5 3 0 19 4 +15 14 1 1 2 DNQ
1957 2 11 8 3 5 NH
1958 2 15 14 3 1 NH
1961 1 6 2 2 2 8 8 0 3 3 8 3 NH
1962 1 16 2 7 7 11 21 −10 6 3 25 NH
1963 1 15 1 7 7 7 19 −12 3 3 20 NH
1964 2 7 NH
1965 2 19 6 NH
1978 Youth 20 NH
1979 Youth 3 1 NH
1980 3 8 3 4 1 13 4 9 10 2 NH
1981 2 30 24 6 48 1 NH
1982 1 30 9 21 23 53 −30 18 15 NH
1983 2 15 11 4 22 2 2 NH
1984 2 10 3 1 R1
1985 1 15 8 7 +6 17 7 3 DNQ
1986 1 14 6 4 4 14 13 +1 16 7 DNE DNQ
1987 1 14 5 1 8 14 19 −5 16 7 NH DNQ
1988 1 25 10 10 5 32 19 +13 43 7 NH DNQ
1989 1 14 1 5 8 8 22 −14 10 8 NH DNQ
1990 2 22 8 11 3 27 15 +13 35 2 R1 DNQ
1991 1 14 4 7 3 16 13 +3 16 4 RU DNQ
1992 1 14 8 2 4 19 15 +4 18 2 R1 DNQ
1993 1 12 5 0/4 3 15 16 −1 4 3 8 NH DNQ Yuexiushan Stadium
1994 1 22 11 5 6 36 27 +9 27 2 NH DNQ 10,545 Yuexiushan Stadium
1995 1 22 7 7 8 28 27 +1 28 5 R1 DNQ DNQ 18,818 Yuexiushan Stadium
1996 1 22 7 8 7 26 25 +1 29 7 R16 DNQ DNQ 13,091 Yuexiushan Stadium
1997 1 22 5 10 7 14 20 −6 25 8 R16 DNQ DNQ 15,364 Yuexiushan Stadium
1998 1 26 4 8 14 25 41 −16 20 14 R1 DNQ DNQ 5,385 Ying Tung Stadium / Provincial People's Stadium
1999 2 22 6 8 8 26 30 −4 26 8 R16 DNQ DNQ Tianhe Stadium
2000 2 22 6 7 9 27 27 0 25 10 R1 DNQ DNQ Provincial People's Stadium
2001 2 22 11 7 4 31 16 +15 40 4 R1 DNQ DNQ 15,273 Yuexiushan Stadium
2002 2 22 4 9 9 23 30 −7 21 11 R1 DNQ DNQ 7,227 Yuexiushan Stadium
2003 2 26 13 9 4 40 20 +20 48 3 R1 DNQ DNQ 10,091 Yuexiushan Stadium
2004 2 32 12 16 4 47 29 +18 52 4 R1 NH DNQ DNQ 13,647 Yuexiushan Stadium
2005 2 26 15 7 4 50 22 +28 52 4 R16 NH DNQ DNQ 14,850 Yuexiushan Stadium / Tianhe Stadium
2006 2 24 15 3 6 45 25 +20 48 3 R16 NH NH DNQ 17,167 Yuexiushan Stadium
2007 2 24 19 4 1 65 15 +50 61 1 NH NH NH DNQ 22,500 Yuexiushan Stadium
2008 1 30 10 10 10 41 42 −1 40 7 NH NH NH DNQ 19,624 Yuexiushan Stadium
2009 1 30 9 10 11 38 38 0 37 9 5 NH NH NH DNQ 20,057 Yuexiushan Stadium / Guangzhou University City Stadium
2010 2 24 17 6 1 61 21 +40 57 1 NH NH NH DNQ 9,083 Zengcheng Stadium / Century Lotus Stadium / Yuexiushan Stadium
2011 1 30 20 8 2 67 23 +44 68 1 R2 NH NH DNQ 45,666 Tianhe Stadium
2012 1 30 17 7 6 51 30 +21 58 1 W W NH QF 37,250 Tianhe Stadium
2013 1 30 24 5 1 78 18 +60 77 1 RU RU NH W CWC 4 40,428 Tianhe Stadium
2014 1 30 22 4 4 76 28 +48 70 1 R16 RU NH QF 42,288 Tianhe Stadium
2015 1 30 19 10 1 71 28 +43 67 1 R32 RU NH W CWC 4 45,809 Tianhe Stadium
  • No league games in 1959, 1966–72, 1975, 1976; Guangzhou did not enter the league in 1960, 1973, 1974 and 1977.
  • ^1 In group stage. ^2 No promotion. ^3 In final group stage. ^4 Promoted via FA Cup. ^ 5 Relegated for match-fixing scandal.

Key

International results

Opponent Season Home Away
Australia Central Coast Mariners FC 2013 AFC Champions League Round of 16 3–0 2–1
Australia Melbourne Victory FC 2014 AFC Champions League Group stage 4–2 0–2
Australia Western Sydney Wanderers FC 2014 AFC Champions League Quarter-finals 2–1 0–1
2015 AFC Champions League Group stage 0–2 3–2
Australia Sydney FC 2016 AFC Champions League Group stage May 3 March 2
Brazil Clube Atlético Mineiro Morocco 2013 FIFA Club World Cup Third place 2–3
Egypt Al Ahly SC Morocco 2013 FIFA Club World Cup Quarter-finals 2–0
Germany FC Bayern Munich Morocco 2013 FIFA Club World Cup Semi-finals 0–3
Japan Kashiwa Reysol 2012 AFC Champions League Group stage 3–1 0–0
2013 AFC Champions League Semi-finals 4–0 4–1
2015 AFC Champions League Quarter-finals 1–1 3–1
Japan FC Tokyo 2012 AFC Champions League Round of 16 1–0 N/A
Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 2013 AFC Champions League Group stage 3–0 2–3
2016 AFC Champions League Group stage March 16 April 5
Japan Yokohama F. Marinos 2014 AFC Champions League Group stage 2–1 1–1
Japan Cerezo Osaka 2014 AFC Champions League Round of 16 0–1 5–1
Japan Kashima Antlers 2015 AFC Champions League Group stage 4–3 1–2
Japan Gamba Osaka 2015 AFC Champions League Semi-finals 2–1 0–0
Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima Japan 2015 FIFA Club World Cup Third place 1–2
South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2012 AFC Champions League Group stage 1–3 5–1
2013 AFC Champions League Group stage 0–0 1–1
2014 AFC Champions League Group stage 3–1 0–1
South Korea FC Seoul 2013 AFC Champions League Final 1–1 2–2
2015 AFC Champions League Group stage 1–0 0–0
South Korea Seongnam FC 2015 AFC Champions League Round of 16 2–0 1–2
South Korea Pohang Steelers or
Vietnam Hanoi T&T F.C. or
Hong Kong Kitchee
2016 AFC Champions League Group stage February 24 April 19
Mexico Club América Japan 2015 FIFA Club World Cup Quarter-finals 2–1
Qatar Lekhwiya 2013 AFC Champions League Quarter-finals 2–0 4–1
Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad Jeddah 2012 AFC Champions League Quarter-finals 2–1 2–4
Spain FC Barcelona Japan 2015 FIFA Club World Cup Semi-finals 0–3
Thailand Buriram United 2012 AFC Champions League Group stage 1–2 2–1
Thailand Muangthong United 2013 AFC Champions League Group stage 4–0 4–1
United Arab Emirates Al-Ahli 2015 AFC Champions League Final 1–0 0–0

Records

All-time top goalscorers

Since 1994 the first professional league season. Correct as of 20 December 2015. Names in bold indicate players currently plays for Guangzhou.

 
League
Player Goals Period
China Gao Lin 66 2010–present
Brazil Elkeson 58 2013–present
Brazil Muriqui 52 2010–14
Honduras Luis Ramírez 48 2007–09
China Hu Zhijun 36 1994–97
Argentina Darío Conca 33 2011–13
China Xu Liang 29 2007–09
China Wen Xiaoming 24 2001–08
China Lu Lin 23 2003–10
China Peng Weiguo 21 1994–97
 
All
Player Goals Period
Brazil Muriqui 77 2010–14
China Gao Lin 76 2010–present
Brazil Elkeson 75 2013–present
Argentina Darío Conca 54 2011–13
Honduras Luis Ramírez 48 2007–09
China Hu Zhijun 36 1994–97
China Xu Liang 29 2007–09
China Wen Xiaoming 27 2001–08
Brazil Ricardo Goulart 2015–present
Brazil Cléo 24 2011–12

Club records

Since 1994 the first professional league season. Correct as of 20 December 2015.

Wins

Defeats

Streaks

  • Longest unbeaten streak (league): 44 games (32 wins and 12 draws) during the 2010 League One to 2011 Super League seasons
  • Longest home unbeaten run (league): 34 games during 2010 League One season to 2012 Super League season (29 wins and 5 draws)
  • Longest away unbeaten run (league): 23 games (14 wins and 9 draws) during the 2010 League One to 2011 Super League seasons
  • Longest streak without a win (league): 12 games (5 draws and 7 defeats) during the 2002 Jia-B League season
  • Longest streak without a win at home (league): 7 games (4 draws and 3 defeats) during the 1998 Jia-A League season
  • Longest streak without a win away (league): 21 games (11 draws and 10 defeats) during 1996 to 1998 Jia-A League seasons
  • Longest winning streak (league): 9 games during the 2007 League One season and 2014 Super League season
  • Longest home winning streak (league): 12 games during the 2011 to 2012 Super League season
  • Longest away winning streak (league): 9 games during the 2015 Super League season
  • Longest losing streak (league): 6 games during the 1998 Jia-A League season
  • Longest home losing streak (league): 3 games during the 1998 Jia-A League season
  • Longest away losing streak (league): 7 games during 1999 to 2000 Jia-B League seasons
  • Longest drawing streak (league): 6 games during the 2004 League One season
  • Longest home drawing streak (league): 3 games during the 2000 Jia-B League season, 2004 League One season and 2009 Super League season
  • Longest away drawing streak (league): 4 games during 2000 to 2001 Jia-B League seasons
  • Longest scoring run (league): 23 games during the 2010 League One to 2011 Super League season
  • Longest scoring run at home (league): 36 games during 2010 League One to 2012 Super League season
  • Longest scoring run away (league): 11 games during the 2010 League One to 2011 Super League seasons and during 2013 Super League season
  • Longest non-scoring run (league): 6 games during the 1997 Jia-A League season
  • Longest non-scoring run at home (league): 3 games during the 1997 Jia-A League season and 1999 Jia-B League season
  • Longest non-scoring run away (league): 9 games during the 1997 Jia-A League season
  • Longest streak without conceding a goal (league): 4 games during 2001 to 2002 Jia-B League seasons and 2007 League One season
  • Longest streak without conceding a goal at home (league): 7 games during 2001 to 2002 Jia-B League seasons
  • Longest streak without conceding a goal away (league): 4 games during the 2010 League One season and 2011 Super League season
  • Longest streak with conceding goals (league): 9 games during 2001 to 2002 Jia-B League seasons and 2009 Super League season
  • Longest streak with conceding goals at home (league): 9 games during the 2006 League One season
  • Longest streak with conceding goals away (league): 14 games during 1999 to 2000 Jia-B League seasons

Record results in a season

  • Most wins in a league season: 24 – 2013 Super League seasons
  • Most draws in a league season: 16 – 2004 League One season
  • Most draws in a first-tier league season: 10 – 1997 Jia-A League season, 2008 Super League season and 2009 Super League season
  • Most defeats in a league season: 14 – 1998 Jia-A League season
  • Fewest wins in a league season: 4 – 1998 Jia-A League season and 2002 Jia-B League season
  • Fewest draws in a league season: 3 – 2006 League One season
  • Fewest draws in a first-tier league season: 5 – 1994 Jia-A League season and 2013 Super League season
  • Fewest defeats in a league season: 1 – 2007 League One season, 2010 League One season and 2013 Super League season
  • Fewest defeats in a first-tier league season: 1 – 2013 Super League season, 2015 Super League season

Goals

  • Most league goals scored in a season: 78 – 2013 Super League season
  • Fewest league goals scored in a season: 14 – 1997 Jia-A League season
  • Most league goals conceded in a season: 42 – 2008 Super League season
  • Fewest league goals conceded in a season: 15 – 2007 League One season
  • Fewest first-tier league goals conceded in a season: 18 – 2013 Super League season

Player records

Feng Junyan currently holds the record of most appearances for the club

Appearances

  • Most appearances in the league: Feng Junyan, 222 games, 2003–14
  • Most appearances in all matches: Feng Junyan, 252 games, 2003–14
  • Most first-tier league appearances: Gao Lin, 134 games, 2011–present

Goalscorers

Transfers

Past and present internationals

Names in bold indicate players who had international appearances for their country while playing for Guangzhou.

Notes and references

  1. simplified Chinese: 广州恒大淘宝; traditional Chinese: 廣州恆大淘寶; pinyin: Guǎngzhōu Héngdà Táobǎo; Jyutping: Gwong2 Zau1 Hang4 Daai6 Tou4 Bou2
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  5. http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/jdownloads/finish/64/52.html
  6. http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/afc/files/acl_2015_competition_regulations_final.pdf
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  12. China League 1994 at Rsssf.com. 19 Jun 2003. Retrieved 2013-07-09
  13. China League 1998 at Rsssf.com. 16 Jul 2003. Retrieved 2013-07-10
  14. Former China midfielder sentenced to death at Espnfc.com. November 27, 2008. Retrieved 2013-07-09
  15. 30年合同八个月终止 广州吉利无奈退出到底为哪般 at Sports.sina.com.cn. 2001-12-15. Retrieved 2013-07-10 (Chinese)
  16. 日之泉1元承接俱乐部70%股权 广州足球转让内幕 at Sports.sina.com.cn. 2004-01-20. Retrieved 2013-07-10 (Chinese)
  17. 广药集团正式入主广州足球 戚务生要冲超 at News.dayoo.com. 2006-02-25. Retrieved 2013-07-10 (Chinese)
  18. Chengdu Blades demoted at Fifa.com. 23 February 2010. Retrieved 2013-07-07
  19. 广州足协官员接受调查 公安部督办恐与赌球有关 at Sports.163.com. 2009-11-04. Retrieved 2013-07-11
  20. List of individuals, clubs punished by CFA for soccer fraud at News.xinhuanet.com. 2013-02-18. Retrieved 2013-07-11
  21. 恒大近亿买断广州队股权 广汽2500万冠名一年 at News.nfmedia.com. 2010-03-01. Retrieved 2013-07-11
  22. 恒大引援再放超级卫星 350万美元天价签巴西猎豹 at Sports.sina.com.cn. 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2013-07-10(Chinese)
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  45. http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matches/round=259719/match=300260481/report.html
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External links

Achievements
Preceded by Champions of Asia
2013
Succeeded by
Western Sydney Wanderers
Australia
Preceded by Champions of Asia
2015
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Champions of China
2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Succeeded by
Incumbent