https://www.scmp.com/rss/322079/feed The Ping An Chinese Football Association Super League is the highest tier of domestic soccer in China. The season runs from March to October, with reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao going for their sixth title in a row. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com This article was written by Ruonan Zheng and originally published in Jing Daily Chinese travellers going abroad usually look for destinations that are WeChat-worthy to impress friends, but now a new report suggests that is now changing. The KOL bubble: how brands can earn the trust of China’s affluent demographic The travel influencer marketing report by ParkLu, the key opinion leader (KOL) agency – focusing on the social media content distribution of 30,000 influencers between May 1 and July 31... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2162158/weibo-vs-wechat-kol-report-reveals-what-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2162158/weibo-vs-wechat-kol-report-reveals-what-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Sep 2018 02:03:08 +0000 China’s big spending football revolution poses little threat to Europe because the world’s top players want to play in the best competitions, Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti insisted. The Italian, who has played for and managed some of Europe’s biggest clubs, said modern-day players still chased glory as much as cash. “I think that the European clubs are safe because the best competition and the most competitive is Europe,” said Ancelotti. “Players are not playing only for money, they play to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2061172/china-no-threat-europe-says-bayern-munich-boss-carlo-ancelotti?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2061172/china-no-threat-europe-says-bayern-munich-boss-carlo-ancelotti?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Jan 2017 04:41:58 +0000 Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel has become the latest high-profile player to move to China, joining promoted Tianjin Quanjian after turning down an offer from Serie A champions Juventus. Russian club Zenit St Petersburg said the 27-year-old player, now at the peak of his career, would sign a five-year deal with the Chinese club. Witsel had been chased by Juventus since the previous transfer window, according to Italian media reports. He was quoted by Italian media on Monday saying that his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/2059197/belgian-ace-axel-witsel-spurns-juventus-join-chinas-tianjin-quanjian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/2059197/belgian-ace-axel-witsel-spurns-juventus-join-chinas-tianjin-quanjian?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Jan 2017 03:28:07 +0000 Brazilian Oscar was given a hero’s welcome when he landed in Shanghai on Monday in a €60 million (HK$487m) deal from Chelsea that smashes the Asian transfer record. Dozens of chanting Shanghai SIPG supporters mobbed the international midfielder, 25, at the city’s Pudong airport. Oscar’s arrival in the Chinese Super League (CSL) comes ahead of that of Argentina’s former Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez, who signed for Shanghai Shenhua in another big-money deal last week. Tevez’s transfer... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2058842/heros-welcome-oscar-lands-china-asian-record-move-chelsea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2058842/heros-welcome-oscar-lands-china-asian-record-move-chelsea?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Jan 2017 03:01:11 +0000 Mark Clattenburg, who refereed the biggest finals in soccer in 2016, would consider a transfer from the English Premier League to the Chinese Super League. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent by Chinese clubs on high-profile talent, including Argentina striker Carlos Tevez this week, in a bid to become a soccer superpower. “China are certainly looking to develop their football, looking at their signings and their recruitment,” Clattenburg said. “If an opportunity came along – I am... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/2058398/worlds-best-football-referee-mark-clattenburg-open-move-chinese-super-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/2058398/worlds-best-football-referee-mark-clattenburg-open-move-chinese-super-league?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Dec 2016 02:58:45 +0000 World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo has turned down the chance to leave Real Madrid for an unnamed Chinese club for a transfer fee of 300 million euros (HK$2.4 billion), his agent said on Thursday. Speaking to Sky Italia at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, Jorge Mendes said the deal would have been worth 100 million euros a year to the Portugal striker. “From China they’ve offered 300 million euros to Real Madrid and more than 100 million per year to the player,” Mendes was quoted as... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/2058123/cristiano-ronaldo-rejected-300-million-euro-move-chinese-super-league-says-his?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/2058123/cristiano-ronaldo-rejected-300-million-euro-move-chinese-super-league-says-his?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Dec 2016 01:58:59 +0000 Argentina’s former Manchester United and Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has signed for Shanghai Shenhua in the latest big-money Chinese deal, the club said yesterday. The acquisition of the 32-year-old from Buenos Aires side Boca Juniors will “greatly enhance” the team’s front line, Shenhua said. “The club looks forward to Tevez helping Greenland Shenhua attack cities and strike stockades in Asian and domestic matches and contribute to more exciting games for fans,” the club said. Shanghai... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/2057849/carlos-tevez-rake-mountain-cash-china-shanghai-shenhua-confirm-signing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/2057849/carlos-tevez-rake-mountain-cash-china-shanghai-shenhua-confirm-signing?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Dec 2016 02:34:38 +0000 China will lower the number of overseas players allowed on domestic teams from five to four in an effort to cool the red-hot market for foreign talent, the Chinese Football Association said. Clubs in the mega-rich Chinese Super League have splashed out more than US$400 million on domestic and foreign players this year after president Xi Jinping laid out his vision of turning the country into a football powerhouse. The the Chinese Football Association (CFA) said only three foreigners from the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2057136/china-lower-club-quotas-foreign-players-amid-new-spending-spree?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2057136/china-lower-club-quotas-foreign-players-amid-new-spending-spree?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Dec 2016 01:28:06 +0000 Much-travelled striker Carlos Tevez is set to leave Boca Juniors for Shanghai Shenhua in the New Year, Argentinean media reports said on Friday. Earlier this month it was reported that the Chinese club had offered a transfer fee of €84 million (HK$681m) for Tevez. The 32-year-old, who on Thursday married the mother of his three children Vanesa Mansilla, is expected to announce next week that he will sign a two-year contract with Shenhua who are coached by former Uruguay midfielder Gus... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2057046/carlos-tevez-set-leave-boca-juniors-big-money-move-chinas-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2057046/carlos-tevez-set-leave-boca-juniors-big-money-move-chinas-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Dec 2016 02:44:40 +0000 Brazil playmaker Oscar became the latest high-profile player to be lured to the cash-rich Chinese Super League when he sealed a move to Shanghai SIPG from Chelsea for a reported £60 million pounds (HK$570m). The English Premier League leaders said Oscar will complete the transfer at the beginning of January, joining a team managed by former Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas, in a move which eclipses the fee Shanghai paid for compatriot Hulk in July. Oscar’s transfer fee was not disclosed by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2057044/brazilian-oscar-move-chelsea-shanghai-sipg-reported-asian-record-ps60m?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2057044/brazilian-oscar-move-chelsea-shanghai-sipg-reported-asian-record-ps60m?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Dec 2016 02:12:58 +0000 Chinese state newspaper People’s Daily warned the country’s big-spending football clubs not to “let money mortgage the future” on Friday – even as superstar Lionel Messi was being linked with a €500 million move to Hebei. The lengthy article in the government-run daily could be seen as an indicator officials are worried the Chinese Super League’s spending is getting out of hand. Even before the transfer window opens on January 1, huge deals to bring South American players Oscar and Carlos Tevez... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2055120/messi-hebei-eu100m-year-latest-crazy-china-football-rumour-even-state?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2055120/messi-hebei-eu100m-year-latest-crazy-china-football-rumour-even-state?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Dec 2016 03:25:55 +0000 Argentina star Carlos Tevez may become the latest big-name player on the move to China for huge amounts of money, with Chinese media reporting that his switch from Boca Juniors to Shanghai Shenhua is all but complete. Mainland news portals Sina and QQ reported that barring unforeseen circumstances the deal would be signed on Thursday night – but downplayed rumours that he could be paid as much as €40 million a year tax-free. Reports in Argentina suggested Tevez was still undecided. Meanwhile,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2054873/carlos-tevez-set-shanghai-shenhua-latest-big-money-china-transfer-eu80m?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2054873/carlos-tevez-set-shanghai-shenhua-latest-big-money-china-transfer-eu80m?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Dec 2016 07:54:58 +0000 China’s winter transfer window looks set to open with a bang as Chelsea midfielder Oscar is set to join Shanghai SIPG in the latest record-breaking deal. The Brazil international said the move is all but done. “It’s 90 per cent done. It just depends on some bureaucratic details,” Brazil’s Globo quoted the midfielder as saying. The 25-year-old will join up with admirer Andre Villas-Boas, SIPG’s new manager who previously tried to sign him for Tottenham Hotspur. The fee has been variously put at... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2054407/china-set-smash-asian-transfer-record-again-ps60m-oscar-goes-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2054407/china-set-smash-asian-transfer-record-again-ps60m-oscar-goes-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Dec 2016 02:04:46 +0000 Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will remain in China after the Swede was announced as the new manager of Shenzhen FC, his third club in the mainland since his arrival in 2013, but it will be his first time managing in China’s second-tier League One. In a statement on Monday, the Shenzhen club, which finished ninth in the recently concluded season, said Eriksson will replace Dutch legend Clarence Seedorf as their new coach. Eriksson’s major task will be leading the southern Guangdong club to promotion... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2051780/sven-goran-eriksson-named-new-shenzhen-fc-boss-weeks-after-being?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2051780/sven-goran-eriksson-named-new-shenzhen-fc-boss-weeks-after-being?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Dec 2016 05:30:30 +0000 Reports emerged last week that the Chinese video streaming service PPTV has agreed to pay US$700 million for the right to broadcast English Premier League football in China. If confirmed, the deal will be 10 times more that the EPL’s current deal in China, and will be its biggest ever overseas broadcast deal. The mooted deal is laden with a whole series of issues, ranging from the receptiveness to and willingness of audiences to pay for television, through to the role that football plays in soft... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2047952/how-chinese-corporations-are-leading-way-countrys-global-grab-football?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2047952/how-chinese-corporations-are-leading-way-countrys-global-grab-football?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Nov 2016 09:57:00 +0000 Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson parted company with Shanghai SIPG, the Chinese club said Friday, despite taking them to a third-place finish in this year’s Chinese Super League (CSL), and was later replaced by former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas as their new coach on Friday. SIPG believe Villas-Boas “can further enrich the team’s tactics”, motivate players and “lead the team to march towards higher goals,” the club said in a statement. The decision was taken following “friendly... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2043011/eriksson-out-villas-boas-busy-day-shangahi-sipg-following-friendly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2043011/eriksson-out-villas-boas-busy-day-shangahi-sipg-following-friendly?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Nov 2016 06:23:45 +0000 Andre Villas-Boas could be the latest big football name on the way to China with reports that he will replace Sven Goran Eriksson as manager of Shanghai SIPG. SIPG are holding a press conference on Friday where it is widely expected his hiring will be confirmed, according to reports in China. The former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager, who left Zenit St Petersburg in May, was seen in the city in photos posted by Chinese social media users. Eriksson, the former England manager, was lured to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2042713/andre-villas-boas-could-be-latest-jump-chinese-super-league-gravy-train?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2042713/andre-villas-boas-could-be-latest-jump-chinese-super-league-gravy-train?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Nov 2016 09:25:35 +0000 There was drama at the bottom end of the table to find out who would join Shijiazhhuang Everbright in China League One next season and in a way that sums up the Chinese Super League, six teams went into the final round of fixtures on Sunday evening facing the prospect of relegation from the top flight. In a division that has only 16 teams in it, that’s a remarkable statistic. After 29 games, just four points separated Henan Jianye, Shandong Luneng, Liaoning Whowin, Tianjin Teda, Changchun Yatai... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2041627/exciting-last-day-chinese-super-league-finalises-standings-and-allows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2041627/exciting-last-day-chinese-super-league-finalises-standings-and-allows?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Oct 2016 08:21:18 +0000 After making a splash on the tiny, honeymoon island of Guam, English coach Gary White is already proving a hit in the cut-throat world of Chinese football. The 42-year-old, who left the palm-fringed Pacific island to manage Shanghai Shenxin earlier this year, has his eye on winning promotion to the Chinese Super League next season after saving the team from relegation. “I came in June and the club was basically in free-fall,” White said in an interview. “Now there will be pressure to go... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2041237/how-little-known-english-coach-gary-white-making-his-mark-chinas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2041237/how-little-known-english-coach-gary-white-making-his-mark-chinas?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Oct 2016 04:59:37 +0000 Guangzhou Evergrande manager Luiz Felipe Scolari signed a new deal with the club after they sealed their sixth consecutive championship, surprising many who expected him to be shown the door. Evergrande had agreed a deal for their former manager Marcello Lippi to return, but stood aside to let him take charge of the national team. But Scolari, 64, agreed a new one-year deal with an option for one more with the club on Monday. “We firmly believe that with world-class champion coach Scolari as the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2039796/big-phil-scolari-signs-new-deal-chinese-champions-guangzhou-evergrande?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2039796/big-phil-scolari-signs-new-deal-chinese-champions-guangzhou-evergrande?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Oct 2016 01:44:52 +0000 “They’ve won the league, bigger stars than Dallas, They got more silver than Buckingham Palace, No-one knows quite what to expect, When the red machine’s in full effect.” That was written about Liverpool during their ’80s heyday but could be equally applied to Guanghzou Evergrande of the present. The only thing is that Chinese football fans know exactly what to expect: Guangzhou Evergrande will win the Super League title. They have done that for the sixth time in a row, lifting the trophy every... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2039556/guangzhou-evergrande-winning-title-inevitable-night-following-day-who?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2039556/guangzhou-evergrande-winning-title-inevitable-night-following-day-who?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Oct 2016 07:54:52 +0000 Hong Kong international footballer Jean-Jacques Kilama proved a hit with Hong Kong independence supporters after posting a photo of himself celebrating promotion to the Chinese Super League by flying the Bauhinia flag. Kilama, who won China’s League One title with big-spending Tianjin Quanjian at the weekend, evaded the Great Firewall to post a photo on his Facebook page of him displaying the flag, with the caption “For my country”. The pic has attracted over 1,000 ‘likes’, rather more than... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2039526/hong-kong-footballer-jean-kilama-delights-fans-social-media-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2039526/hong-kong-footballer-jean-kilama-delights-fans-social-media-after?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Oct 2016 06:15:00 +0000 Despite the hundreds of millions of dollars spent by a growing number of Chinese Super League clubs in 2016, Guangzhou Evergrande continue to dominate, winning a sixth straight title on Sunday. Luiz Felipe Scolari made it two championships since arriving in June 2015 as the club were held 1-1 by Yanbian Funde but moved seven points clear of Jiangsu Suning in second with two games remaining. Guangzhou have dominated most of the season, helped by Brazilian internationals Paulinho, who scored... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2039471/its-all-change-big-spending-chinese-super-league-one-thing-remains-same?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2039471/its-all-change-big-spending-chinese-super-league-one-thing-remains-same?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Oct 2016 02:41:55 +0000 Former Guangzhou Evergrande manager Marcello Lippi is set to take over as China boss, according to reports in Italy and the mainland. Gao Hongbo was sacked after China’s 2-0 defeat by Uzbekistan 10 days ago which has almost certainly ended their hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. And Italian Lippi, who guided Guangzhou to three Chinese Super League titles and the Asian Champions League, was immediately installed as one of the favourites to take over. Reports say the Chinese Football... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2038573/marcello-lippi-set-be-handed-eu50m-save-chinas-dire-national-football?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2038573/marcello-lippi-set-be-handed-eu50m-save-chinas-dire-national-football?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Oct 2016 03:54:32 +0000 A reporter for the Sun, Britain’s most popular newspaper, has come under fire after publishing an ‘investigation’ into the Chinese Super League in which he branded China’s populace as lazy. Justin Allen visited Shanghai and Changchun and wrote an article in which he was highly critical of China’s big-spending football league – and the people of the country. Allen wrote: “The Chinese come across as lazy generally – surely a by-product of a communist regime that has ruled their land since... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2025665/sports-writer-britains-biggest-tabloid-under-fire-branding-people-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2025665/sports-writer-britains-biggest-tabloid-under-fire-branding-people-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Oct 2016 04:30:15 +0000 A top Chinese football official has urged Fifa to realise the “dream” of China’s fans by bringing the World Cup to the nation in 2030 – or even sooner. Chinese Football Association vice-president Zhang Jian said Fifa’s rotation policy probably ruled out a return to Asia in 2026, after Qatar hosts the World Cup in 2022. Zhang said that “it’s not very easy” for China to hold the World Cup in 2026. But he said the final decision was up to world body Fifa. “Every Chinese football fan has a dream –... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2023353/top-official-urges-fifa-hand-china-their-dream-hosting-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2023353/top-official-urges-fifa-hand-china-their-dream-hosting-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Sep 2016 08:54:27 +0000 Another game down and four left for the Chinese Super League season and while Guangzhou Evergrande now have one hand on the trophy, elsewhere there is still much to be decided. While 34 points separate Guangzhou Evergrande in top spot and Changchun Yatai at the foot of the table, those numbers don’t tell the real story of the mini-leagues that are still being contested throughout the top flight. After this weekend, Evergrande moved to seven points clear of second placed Jiangsu Suning, who in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2022628/guangzhou-evergrande-put-one-hand-chinese-title-super-league-battle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2022628/guangzhou-evergrande-put-one-hand-chinese-title-super-league-battle?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Sep 2016 08:35:50 +0000 Shocking footage has emerged online showing a group of Jiangsu Suning fans violently assaulting a prone man assumed to be a supporter of rivals Shanghai Shenhua. The violent videos circulating on Chinese social media show the man being kicked multiple times in the head by an angry mob after having been pelted with eggs, while others film the assault on their phones. The assault took place outside Jiangsu’s stadium before their FA Cup semi-final second leg against Shenhua. The man walked... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2021566/watch-shocking-scenes-chinese-football-jiangsu-fans-assault-helpless?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2021566/watch-shocking-scenes-chinese-football-jiangsu-fans-assault-helpless?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Sep 2016 03:00:45 +0000 This was the season that Chinese football exploded on to the world’s consciousness, but on a regional level it is not the year that a new Super League team wins the AFC Champions League and keeps the trophy in China. Last week in the quarter-finals the remaining Chinese teams bowed out as Sven Goran Eriksson’s Shanghai SIPG were humbled 5-0 in South Korea by Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to exit after losing by the same scoreline on aggregate. Back in China, Shandong Luneng held South Korea’s FC Seoul... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2020677/golden-goose-guanghzou-evergrandes-domestic-dominance-hurting-china-afc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2020677/golden-goose-guanghzou-evergrandes-domestic-dominance-hurting-china-afc?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Sep 2016 11:15:45 +0000 While the Manchester derby was acting as an advert for everything that’s good about the Premier League this weekend, Jiangsu Suning Sainty and Shijiazhuang Everbright were doing their best to showcase the reasons for watching the Chinese Super League. The game finished 6-1 to Jiangsu Suning but there could have been a lot more goals, with Shijiazhuang missing two penalties. Aside from the end-to-end football, countless chances and both faces of Chinese goalkeeping, the game also highlighted one... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2018598/goals-win-games-lack-top-strikers-how-can-china-solve-its-goalscoring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2018598/goals-win-games-lack-top-strikers-how-can-china-solve-its-goalscoring?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Sep 2016 08:20:06 +0000 Ex-Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is one man who will not be watching Saturday’s Manchester derby as he takes his bow with Hebei China Fortune in the ultra-volatile Chinese Super League. At the same time as his successor, Pep Guardiola, is locking horns with Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford, Pellegrini will be pitchside 8,000 kilometres away as Hebei host Guangzhou Evergrande in northern China. Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Centre Stadium will be a novel experience for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2018012/say-hello-wave-goodbye-far-manchester-pellegrini-enters-chinas-dragons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2018012/say-hello-wave-goodbye-far-manchester-pellegrini-enters-chinas-dragons?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Sep 2016 09:01:06 +0000 Tony Adams turns 50 next month, and admits that, at one stage of his life, he wasn’t even sure that he’d live to see his 30th birthday. His struggles with alcohol more than two decades ago were the stuff of tabloid headlines before the former England captain straightened himself out to set up his own charity to help athletes overcome addiction. Now, as he gets settled in as sport director of Chinese Super League club Chongqing Lifan FC, the Arsenal legend says he is full of optimism and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2012224/i-didnt-think-i-would-make-30-arsenal-legend-tony-adams-reflects-his?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2012224/i-didnt-think-i-would-make-30-arsenal-legend-tony-adams-reflects-his?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Sep 2016 07:58:36 +0000 If I needed proof that the Chinese Super League really has become international then I got it the most unlikely of places: US immigration. Talk with the agent turned towards football and his interest in the CSL became apparent – as a Seattle Sounders fan he took an interest in their former striker Obafemi Martins and his fortunes at Shanghai Shenhua – but he seemed to have more than a passing knowledge of the game. There must be many more like him and not just in the US. Now that Sky Sports have... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1997763/chinese-super-league-makes-impressive-uk-debut-its-already-so-last?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1997763/chinese-super-league-makes-impressive-uk-debut-its-already-so-last?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Aug 2016 09:33:24 +0000 The megabucks Chinese Super League is to be shown in the UK from this weekend as British broadcaster Sky Sports announced a three-season deal to show live games on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Few details of the agreement were revealed, but the coverage will kick off this weekend when Shanghai Shenhua meet Jiangsu Suning on Saturday evening. There will be a host of familiar faces on show for English Premier League fans, with England proving to be a favoured shopping destination for Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1995053/epl-territory-chinese-super-league-be-shown-uk-three-year-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1995053/epl-territory-chinese-super-league-be-shown-uk-three-year-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Jul 2016 09:32:21 +0000 It’s fitting that torrential rain in Beijing put paid to Manchester United against Manchester City at the National Stadium on Monday evening. As unaccustomed as the clubs are to meeting in China – it was to be the first derby in the history of the 135-year-old rivalry to be played on foreign soil ­– they will at least have been comfortable with the weather. Nothing has exactly gone to plan for Jose Mourinho’s United on this trip. Battered 4-1 by Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai on Friday night, the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1994557/it-never-rains-it-pours-manchester-derby-cancelled-more-games-expected?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1994557/it-never-rains-it-pours-manchester-derby-cancelled-more-games-expected?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Jul 2016 09:45:00 +0000 Shanghai Greenland Shenhua versus Shanghai SIPG doesn’t exactly slip off the tongue, but while the names might not be in the traditions of the world’s great football clubs, the rivalry is close to any. Some have even begun to whisper that it is the biggest derby in Asia. In truth, that’s a stretch. And something that the fans of Tehran rivals Esteghal FC and Persepolis – a derby that dates back to the late 1960s, involves the two most successful teams in Iran and has seen crowds of up to 120,000... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1991197/why-shanghai-derby-has-become-one-china-footballs-most-heated-rivalries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1991197/why-shanghai-derby-has-become-one-china-footballs-most-heated-rivalries?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Jul 2016 03:34:05 +0000 Former Chelsea striker Demba Ba suffered a horror leg break while playing for Shanghai Shenhua in a Chinese Super League soccer derby against Shanghai SIPG on Sunday. The 31-year-old Senegalese collapsed in the 63rd minute of his side’s 2-1 victory after a challenge from Sun Xiang, with his left leg giving way beneath the knee as he fell to the ground. Demba Ba quebrou a perna pic.twitter.com/7rwiGImjwR — Reinaldo Andrade (@reinaldoandrade) July 17, 2016 “It could end his professional career,”... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1991058/bad-break-horror-injury-demba-ba-chinese-super-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1991058/bad-break-horror-injury-demba-ba-chinese-super-league?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Jul 2016 16:30:15 +0000 Italy striker Graziano Pelle has cashed in on his decent performance at Euro 2016 with a move to Shandong Luneng in the Chinese Super League – and according to reports, he’s set to become the world’s fifth highest-paid player despite a hitherto journeyman career. And China now has four of the top-10 highest-paid players in the world, according to journalist Tancredi Palmeri. The 30-year-old will reportedly earn €16 million a year (HK$137 million) after leaving Southampton. The fee was reported... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1988820/cashing-graziano-pelle-set-become-fifth-highest-paid-footballer-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1988820/cashing-graziano-pelle-set-become-fifth-highest-paid-footballer-world?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Jul 2016 04:16:17 +0000 High-profile English Premier League players such as England captain Wayne Rooney could be targets for the cash-rich Chinese Super League, a leading Chinese sports event organiser said Tuesday. Eric Gao, the man behind the International Champions Cup which this year pitches Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City against bitter rival Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, says the Super League had to look elsewhere as the well of South America-based talent was running dry. The Super League clubs’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1982936/no-player-beyond-chinese-clubs-reach-wayne-rooney-china-rumours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1982936/no-player-beyond-chinese-clubs-reach-wayne-rooney-china-rumours?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jun 2016 02:46:31 +0000 Big-spending Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai SIPG have broken the Chinese record transfer mark after splashing a reported €55 million (HK$473.5 million) on Brazilian international striker Hulk. The 30-year-old is reported to be arriving in Shanghai on Wednesday morning to formally complete the move. Rumours had been swirling for days that the powerful forward would be the first high-profile signing of the Chinese transfer window, and various sources are now reporting that the transfer is... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1982669/bang-goes-transfer-record-again-shanghai-sipg-smash-chinese-mark-sign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1982669/bang-goes-transfer-record-again-shanghai-sipg-smash-chinese-mark-sign?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jun 2016 10:30:09 +0000 Svexit! That’s the burning issue hanging over the Chinese Super League after Shanghai SIPG dropped yet more points at home this weekend, squandering chances to put the game out of sight before allowing Tianjin TEDA to net a late equaliser. So the question is: will Sven-Goran Eriksson stay on as SIPG head coach or will he be asked to leave? The fans voted with their feet. Some even filing out before the final whistle – which rarely happens – with others following immediately on full-time, when... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1982174/hulk-rescue-could-shanghai-sipg-be-ready-break-bank-save-svens-skin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1982174/hulk-rescue-could-shanghai-sipg-be-ready-break-bank-save-svens-skin?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Jun 2016 08:35:07 +0000 Dark scenes in world football this weekend and the Chinese Super League was no exception. Nothing on the scale of the nonsense in Marseille, of course, but unwelcome scenes nonetheless at Shanghai Stadium where Shanghai SIPG took on Jiangsu Suning in a game both needed to win in order to keep pace in the race for the AFC Champions League spots. The home side fell behind to a breakaway goal after Alex Teixeira slipped in fellow Brazilian Ramires to slot home in the 20th minute before bombarding... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1974547/pressure-starts-tell-chinese-super-league-summit-mid-season-sackings-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1974547/pressure-starts-tell-chinese-super-league-summit-mid-season-sackings-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Jun 2016 11:00:05 +0000 Former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has taken the helm at China’s second tier Tianjin Quanjian, marking his return to what is emerging as the world’s richest football market. Cannavaro was scheduled to make his first appearance at an open practice on Friday after arriving in the northern port city of Tianjin on Thursday. The former defender previously spent a year as coach of Guangzhou Evergrande in the top flight Chinese Super League, followed by a stint with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr. As a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1971680/italian-fabio-cannavaro-returns-china-boss-second-tier-side-tianjin-quanjian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1971680/italian-fabio-cannavaro-returns-china-boss-second-tier-side-tianjin-quanjian?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jun 2016 07:59:47 +0000 The surge of investment in the Chinese Super League not only brings famous foreign players to the country, it increases pressure on the big-name coaches hired to win titles. The results have not been there and this means there is pressure for any coach. It is the same in many places and it is the same in China Mano Menezes, former Shandong Luneng coach Clubs in China spent more than US$300 million on playing talent from overseas ahead of the 2016 season, more than any other country in the world.... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1971639/chinese-super-league-grows-stature-so-does-pressure-managers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1971639/chinese-super-league-grows-stature-so-does-pressure-managers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jun 2016 07:15:30 +0000 Former Bayern Munich boss Felix Magath has been appointed the head coach at Shandong Luneng, the Chinese Super League club has announced. The 62-year-old German also managed Wolfsburg, Schalke 04 and Fulham, and replaces Brazilian Mano Menezes, who quit the side that have reached the AFC Champions League quarter-finals but are mired in the league’s relegation zone. Magath’s move also saw him reunite with Shandong captain Hao Junmin, who had a stint at Schalke when the German was in charge... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1970549/ex-bayern-boss-felix-magath-takes-charge-chinese-super-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1970549/ex-bayern-boss-felix-magath-takes-charge-chinese-super-league?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jun 2016 08:29:26 +0000 Former Guam coach Gary White has joined the rush to Chinese football after signing on with second-tier Shanghai Shenxin. Chinese football is really starting to blossom and it’s an opportunity for coaches like myself to make a statement and to really get your teeth into a league which is becoming very competitive Gary White White steered tiny Guam to the final round of Asian Cup qualifiers, recording victories against Turkmenistan and India, a country of 1.2 billion, along the way. “The timing to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1960311/former-guam-national-team-manager-gary-white-joins-rush-china-second?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1960311/former-guam-national-team-manager-gary-white-joins-rush-china-second?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 May 2016 05:23:26 +0000 Against the odds, it has been a very successful week for Shanghai SIPG. They first overcame FC Tokyo in the second leg of their AFC Champions League round of 16 game on Tuesday and then they came away with something from a visit to the champions yesterday to keep hopes alive of a domestic league, cup and continental treble. The Black Stars captain is said to be going, going, Gyan at the next available opportunity as SIPG look to offload the striker’s multimillion dollar wages In Shanghai last... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1959393/going-going-gyan-transfer-rumours-swirl-around-csl-shanghai-sipg-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1959393/going-going-gyan-transfer-rumours-swirl-around-csl-shanghai-sipg-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 May 2016 08:02:23 +0000 Can anyone stop Guangzhou Evergrande? The five-time reigning champions came away from a visit to Liaoning Whowin with a 3-0 victory this weekend to end round 10 with their ninth win in a row. The latest triumph puts them six points clear at the top of the Chinese Super League table ahead of the chasing pair of Jiangsu Suning and Shanghai SIPG. Chinese coaches will receive intensive training from City coaches and the best players in their training programs will be sent to the City Football... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1951656/kids-are-alright-focus-shifts-china-looks-enhance-youth-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1951656/kids-are-alright-focus-shifts-china-looks-enhance-youth-development?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 May 2016 08:30:00 +0000 The free-spending Chinese Super League has done many things that you’d assume would warrant Chinese football dominating headlines around the world but nothing more so than an old-fashioned tear-up. That’s what happened at the end of the game between Jiangsu Suning and Wuhan Hongxing following their Chinese FA cup tie last week and various media outlets across the globe took notice. The nature of the Chinese FA Cup, in following the world’s oldest cup competition in being open to everyone,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1945643/chinese-football-making-headlines-it-craves-all-wrong-reasons-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1945643/chinese-football-making-headlines-it-craves-all-wrong-reasons-after?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 May 2016 08:15:45 +0000 There were goals galore in the Chinese Super League this weekend in the highest scoring round of games so far this season. Twenty-five goals went in over the eight matches, with seven of those coming in the 4-3 thriller between Hebei China Fortune and Henan Jianye on Friday night. The CSL might yet end up with another record year in terms of goals scored but even if it doesn’t the returns stand up to comparison, they are good value in that regard This was the most goals since week three’s 23... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1942620/goal-rush-csl-scoring-bonanza-puts-its-average-alongside-top-european?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1942620/goal-rush-csl-scoring-bonanza-puts-its-average-alongside-top-european?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 May 2016 08:30:00 +0000