Chinese Super League

Unlike many top European leagues like Bundesliga, Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, the Chinese Super League starts in February or March and ends in November or December. In each season, each club plays each of the other clubs twice, once at home and another away.

With 16 clubs currently in the Chinese Super League in Season 2023, each club plays 30 matches. There are 8 games every round, and 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 League position is determined by the highest number of points accumulated during the season. If two or more teams are level on points, tiebreakers are, in the following order

1. Highest number of points accumulated in matches between the teams concerned;
2. Highest goal difference in matches between the teams concerned;
3. Highest number of goals scored in matches between the teams concerned;
4. Highest points accumulated by the reserve teams in the reserve league
5. Highest points accumulated by the U19 teams in the U19 league
6. Highest goal difference;
7. Highest number of goals scored;
8. Fair-Play points (Clubs deduct 1 point for a yellow card, and 3 points for a red card);
9. Draw by lots.

When the Asian Football Confederation started the AFC Champions League in the 2002–03 season, China was given 2 slots in the competition. Qualification for the AFC Champions League changed in 2009 as AFC distributed 4 slots to China. 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 in 3rd or higher, the 4th place team in the league will take the Champions League spot.

Between the 2002–03 and the 2017 season, Chinese clubs won the AFC Champions League two times, behind Korean K-League with five wins, and Japanese J-League with three wins.

On 17 November 2017, the Vice-president of the CFA, Li Yuyi, disclosed the expansion plan of the top four level leagues of China. The Chinese Super League is planning to expand to 18 clubs, followed by China League One with 20 clubs, China League Two with 32 clubs and the Chinese Football Association Member Association Champions League with 48 clubs.^[3]

Though it could be argued that football was invented by the Chinese, organised league play of association football in China only began in 1951 with the establishment of the Chinese National Football Conference as a round-robin tournament, with 8 teams participating. Development was rapid: in 1954, the competition was renamed the National Football League, in 1956, it was divided into two Divisions, and promotion and relegation between the two tiers started in 1957. In the 1980s, the Chinese Football Association allowed enterprise entities to sponsor and invest in football teams, and as a result, the league entered a semi-pro period in 1987. Sponsored by Goldlion Group, the league played its first-ever home and away season: participating were the top 7 clubs of the 1986 Division 1, together with Liaoning, who were 1985 season champions, but did not compete in 1986 league season due to participating in the Asian Club Championship. The tournament was renamed the National Football League Division 1 Group A, or Chinese Jia-A League for short, and the other 8 clubs of Division 1 and the top 4 clubs from Division 2 participated in the Chinese Jia-B League. The two groups merged in the 1988 season, but divided again in 1989.

In the early 1990s, the CFA began to allow enterprises to purchase football clubs and manage them, whether they were state-owned enterprises or private-owned companies, and in 1992, it was announced that, as part of the sports system reform project, the Chinese Jia-A League would become the country's first professional football league, starting with the 1994 season. All Jia-A clubs were ordered to set up professionally before 1994, and all Jia-B clubs were given an extra year to realise professional structural reform. The Jia-A league achieved success in its early years, but in the late ’90s, its management practices received heavy criticism; special attention was paid to the lack of continuity in key policies, as well as a lack of sustainable development in certain member clubs. At the same time, the league was affected by gambling, match-fixing and corruption.^[4] As a result, the chaotic state of Jia-A had become a "troubled investment environment," with sponsors and club owners both bowing out. In recognition of the aforementioned, as well as a multitude of other factors, the Chinese Football Association decided to reform the League system, which ultimately led to the creation of the Chinese Super League.

On January 13, 2001, Yan Shiduo, vice-president of the Chinese Football Association, discussed setting up a new professional league system,^[5] and in 2002, the CFA announced the establishment of the Chinese Super League, with the first season beginning in 2004. Intending to introduce truly commercial methods and let the professional football market in China operate more freely, the CSL seeks to draw on the experience of professional Leagues in Europe to redesign the league structure and strengthen professionalism.

Compared to the 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 program at every club. The CSL published first edition of CSL club criteria in 2002 and revised it several times, club license system was introduced since 2004. Besides the regular professional league, the CSL also has a reserve league, and Youth super league plays in U-19,U-17,U-15,U-14 and U-13 levels.

The CSL and China League One'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 an influx of higher-quality foreign coaches and players, and gradually establish the European system for player registrations and transfers.

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, and where, since 1999, scandals such as match-fixing and gambling had been uncovered.^[6] This resulted in the loss of interest in the domestic game, low attendances and great financial losses.^{[citation needed]}

The original plan was to have one relegated team and two promoted teams for the 2004 season and 2005 season, thus increasing the number of teams in 2006 to 14. But the CFA's decisions caused the relegations to be cancelled for these 2 years.

For the 2005 season, the league expanded to 14 teams after Wuhan Huanghelou and Zhuhai Zobon won promotion from China League One. The Zhuhai team, formerly named Zhuhai Anping, had been bought by the Shanghai Zobon 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 Blue Lions and Changchun Yatai. However, Sichuan First City withdrew before the start of the season, leaving only 15 teams when the season started on March 11. Shanghai 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'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 pulled out of the league.

In 2008, the season started with 16 clubs participating for the first time, however, Wuhan protested against punishments made by the CFA after a match against Beijing Guoan, and announced its immediate withdrawal from the league, which left the season to finish with 15 clubs.

Since 2009, the league has run with 16 stable clubs participating each year. Two are relegated to China League One, and two are promoted from China League One 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 football gambling, match-fixing and corruption, and former CFA vice presidents Xie Yalong, Nan Yong and Yang Yimin were arrested.^[7] On February 22, 2010, CFA relegated Guangzhou Yiyao for match-fixing in 2006 China League One Season, as well as Chengdu Blades for match-fixing in 2007 China League One season.^[8]

In 2011, the anti-corruption movement had visibly improved the image of the CSL, with increases to attendance. Clubs such as Guangzhou Evergrande and Shanghai Shenhua began investing heavily in foreign stars. After former Fluminense midfielder Darío Conca transferred in 2011, some notable signings during the 2012 seasons included former Chelsea forward Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, former Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita and Fábio Rochemback, former Sevilla FC forward Frédéric Kanouté, former Blackburn Rovers forward Yakubu and former Borussia Dortmund forward Lucas Barrios. Former Japan national team coach Takeshi Okada took up the reins as the new coach of Hangzhou Greentown, former Argentina national team coach Sergio Batista replaced Jean Tigana as Shanghai Shenhua's head coach, and former Italy national team and Juventus manager Marcello Lippi replaced Lee Jang-Soo as Guangzhou Evergrande's head coach.

In 2012, Guangzhou Evergrande became the first Chinese team to defend their CSL title, and to win consecutive titles. However, eight-time champions of Professional League, Dalian Shide, had seriously financial problems during the entire season, especially after the arrest of club owner Xu Ming. They had planned to merge with Dalian Aerbin, the other CSL club of the city, but the Chinese Football Association blocked the merger at the end, as Dalian Shide failed to cancel their registration as a CSL club before the merger. So Aerbin effectively purchased and swallowed up Shide, including the club's famed academy and training facilities. Dalian Shide was officially dissolved on 31 January 2013. The country's most successful club had ceased to exist.

In 2013, David Beckham became first global ambassador for CSL. In February 2013, Shanghai Shenhua was stripped of its 2003 Chinese Ji-A league title as part of a broad match-fixing crackdown. In total, 12 clubs were handed punishments, while 33 people, including former CFA vice-president Xie Yalong and Nan Yong, received life bans. Also in 2013, Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao won the Asian Champions League title, the first time a Chinese Super League team has won that award.

In 2014, Guangzhou Evergrande became the first Chinese club to win four consecutive professional league titles.

In 2015, ex-Tottenham midfielder Paulinho moved to Guangzhou Evergrande at the age of 27, Guangzhou Evergrande become AFC champions League champions for second time.

In 2016, the Chinese super league became a rising power in the global transfer market. Brazil international Ramires, Colombia international Jackson Martinez and Fredy Guarin were among the notable signings, while Pavel Nedvěd was appointed as second global ambassador for CSL.

2017 saw the Chinese Super League (CSL) catapulted to global attention. Players such as Oscar, Carlos Tevez, Ricardo Carvalho, Alexandre Pato and Mikel John Obi all moved east during the year. Guangzhou Evergrande won their 7th consecutive league title.

2018, in the 28th round of the 2018 Chinese Super League, the two title favourites Shanghai SIPG and Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao clashed head-to-head, with Shanghai SIPG coming away with 5 - 4 hard win over Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao to open up the points gap with Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao. At last, Shanghai SIPG won the 2018 Chinese Super League Champion, thus breaking Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao's 7-year monopoly of the Chinese Super League.

At the 2019 CSL Mobilization Meeting, the CFA Referees Committee officially announced that a professional referee system will be introduced in the CSL in 2019, with two foreign referees including Mark Clattenburg, Milorad Mažić, and three local referees to be officially hired as the first professional referees in the history of Chinese football. The two foreign professional referees will be mainly responsible for enforcing the Chinese Super League, but will also provide coaching and training for local referees.

Affected by COVID-19,the 2020 Chinese Super League has been postponed to July 25. The 16 teams will be divided into two groups to play in Suzhou and Dalian. This year's league was temporarily changed to a "Group stage + Knockout" format and adopted a tournament system.

The preparatory committee of the Chinese Professional Football League was established on May 27, 2016,^[9] with members from 5 CSL clubs, 3 CL1 clubs and 2 CL2 clubs, includes two CFA representatives. The blueprint is to have all of the three professional level leagues of China, the Chinese Super League, China Football League one and China Football League two separated from the League structure of the CFA. The PFL will be a private company wholly owned by its Member Clubs who make up the League at any one time. Each club is a shareholder, with one vote each on issues such as rule changes and contracts. The newly formed PFL would have commercial independence from The CFA, giving the PFL licence to negotiate its own broadcast and sponsorship agreements.

The CFA will no longer hold any shares of the League, but as the national governing body for football in China, the CFA is responsible for sanctioning competition Rule Books, and regulating on-field matters. It also organises The CFA Cup competition, in which PFL Member Clubs compete and the lower division leagues ranked after CL2, under a specific agreement between CFA and PFL. The CFA also has the ability to exercise a vote on certain specific issues, but has no role in the day-to-day running of the CSL, CL1 and CL2.

On January 3, 2017, the CFA announced that Chinese Professional Football League, formed as a limited company, will be established in March 2017, the CSL and CL1 clubs will be found members of the PFL starts from 2017, with CL2 planning to join the system by 2019. The PFL preparatory committee will discuss and establish the regulations and the structures of the PFL, holding the elections of the PFL president in January and February 2017. However, after a series of meetings includes CFA officers and club owners, the plan had been put on hold.

Beijing Guoan

Cangzhou Mighty Lions

Changchun Yatai

Chengdu Rongcheng

Henan

Nantong Zhiyun

Meizhou Hakka

Qingdao

Shandong Taishan

Shanghai

Shenzhen Peng City

Tianjin Jinmen Tiger

Wuhan Three Towns

Zhejiang

Qingdao teams:
Qingdao Hainiu
Qingdao West Coast

Shanghai teams:
Shanghai Port
Shanghai Shenhua

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Locations of the 2024 Chinese Super League teams

Club		Location	Stadium	Capacity	Seasons	Best finish	Worst finish	Current spell	Head coach
English name	Chinese name
Beijing Guoan	北京国安	Beijing	Workers' Stadium	68,000	2004 to 2024	1st (2009)	9th (2017)	from 2004	Ricardo Soares
Cangzhou Mighty Lions	沧州雄狮	Cangzhou	Cangzhou Stadium	31,836	2015 to 2016 2020 to 2024	7th (2015)	16th (2016, 2020)	from 2020	Zhao Junzhe
Changchun Yatai	长春亚泰	Changchun	Changchun Stadium	41,638	2006 to 2018 2021 to 2024	1st (2007)	15th (2018)	from 2021	Xie Hui
Chengdu Rongcheng	成都蓉城	Chengdu	Chengdu Phoenix Hill Football Stadium	50,695	2022 to 2024	4th (2023)	5th (2022)	from 2022	Seo Jung-won
Henan	河南	Zhengzhou	Zhengzhou Hanghai Stadium	29,860	2007 to 2012 2014 to 2024	3rd (2009)	16th (2012)	from 2014	Nam Ki-Il
Meizhou Hakka	梅州客家	Wuhua	Huitang Stadium	27,000	2022 to 2024	9th (2022)	11th (2023)	from 2022	Milan Ristić
Nantong Zhiyun	南通支云	Rugao	Rugao Olympic Sports Center	14,603	2023 to 2024	14th (2023)		from 2023	Mihajlo Jurasovic
Qingdao Hainiu	青岛海牛	Qingdao	Qingdao Youth Football Stadium	52,800	2004 to 2013 2023 to 2024	6th (2011)	15th (2013)	from 2023	Yasen Petrov
Qingdao West Coast	青岛西海岸	Qingdao	Guzhenkou University City Sports Center Stadium	20,000	2024	none		from 2024	Hisashi Kurosaki
Shandong Taishan	山东泰山	Jinan	Jinan Olympic Sports Luneng Stadium	56,808	2004 to 2024	1st (2006, 2008, 2010, 2021)	14th (2016)	from 2004	Choi Kang-hee
Shanghai Port	上海海港	Shanghai	Pudong Football Stadium	37,000	2013 to 2024	1st (2018, 2023)	9th (2013)	from 2013	Kevin Muscat
Shanghai Shenhua	上海申花	Shanghai	Shanghai Stadium	71,066	2004 to 2024	2nd (2005, 2006, 2008)	13th (2019)	from 2004	Leonid Slutsky
Shenzhen Peng City	深圳新鹏城	Shenzhen	Bao'an Stadium	44,050	2024	none		from 2024	Jesús Tato
Tianjin Jinmen Tiger	天津津门虎	Tianjin	TEDA Football Stadium	36,390	2004 to 2024	2nd (2010)	14th (2018)	from 2004	Yu Genwei
Wuhan Three Towns	武汉三镇	Wuhan	Wuhan Sports Center	56,201	2022 to 2024	1st (2022)	7th (2023)	from 2022	Ricardo Rodríguez
Zhejiang	浙江	Hangzhou	Hangzhou Yellow Dragon Sports Center	51,971	2007 to 2016 2022 to 2024	3rd (2022, 2023)	15th (2009, 2016)	from 2022	Jordi Vinyals

There are several key rivalries and local derbies^{[broken anchor]} that have formed in the Chinese Super League, including:

Jing–Hu rivalry

• 2004: Beijing Guoan v Shanghai Shenhua

Shanghai derby

• 2004: Shanghai Shenhua v Inter Shanghai
• 2005: Shanghai Shenhua v Inter Shanghai v Shanghai United
• 2006: Shanghai Shenhua v Shanghai United
• 2012: Shanghai Shenhua v Shanghai Shenxin
• 2013–2015: Shanghai Shenhua v Shanghai Shenxin v Shanghai Port
• 2016–present: Shanghai Shenhua v Shanghai Port

Guangzhou derby

• 2012–2022: Guangzhou v Guangzhou City

Dalian derby

• 2012: Dalian Shide v Dalian Aerbin

Tianjin derby

• 2017–2019: Tianjin Teda v Tianjin Tianhai

Beijing derby

• 2018–2019: Beijing Guoan v Beijing Renhe

Wuhan derby

• 2022: Wuhan Yangtze River v Wuhan Three Towns

Qingdao derby

• 2024–present: Qingdao Hainiu v Qingdao West Coast

Professional footballers in China receive relatively high salaries when compared to other Chinese sports leagues and football leagues in other countries. The average salary for CSL players is $1,016,579 in 2017,^[10] it is ranked at eleventh place among all of the professional sports leagues and the sixth-highest of any professional association football league in the world.

CSL has two transfer windows—the primary pre-season transfer window lasts two months from January to February, and the secondary mid season transfer window runs one month from mid June to mid July. As of the 2018 season, the CSL introduced new rules mandating that each club must register a maximum 31-man squad, with 27 Chinese Players, including a player from Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese Taipei, and 4 foreign players. In the transfer window clubs could sign 5 Chinese players at any age, plus 3 under 21 Chinese players; clubs could register 4 foreign players in the winter transfer, and replace two of them in the summer transfer.^[11]

The record transfer fee for a CSL player has risen rapidly since the investment boost started in 2015. The six most expensive transfers with players coming to CSL have exceeded €30 million, with Chelsea selling Oscar to Shanghai SIPG in December 2016 for a fee of €60 million,^[12] Zenit Saint Petersburg selling Hulk to Shanghai SIPG for €55.8 million in July 2016, Shakhtar Donetsk selling Alex Teixeira to Jiangsu Suning for €50 million in February 2016, Atlético Madrid selling Jackson Martínez to Guangzhou Evergrande for €42 million in February 2016, Villarreal selling Cédric Bakambu to Beijing Guoan for €40 million in February 2018, Atlético Madrid selling Yannick Carrasco to Dalian Yifang for €30 million in February 2018. Guangzhou Evergrande's sale of Paulinho to Barcelona for €40 million in 2017 broke the record for a CSL player transfer to other leagues. Transfer fees for domestic players also increased dramatically. Beijing Guoan sold Chinese International Zhang Chengdong to Hebei China Fortune for ¥15 million in January 2017, breaking the domestic transfer record for Chinese players.

The Chinese Football Association introduced a new transfer tax to restrict transfer spending. On June 20, 2017, CFA announced that any club that pays more than ¥45 million for a foreign player transfer or ¥20 million for a Chinese player transfer must pay the same amount to a CFA youth development fund.^[13]

In December 2020, the CFA imposed a salary cap on the Super League. Starting with the 2021 season, total player wages are capped at ¥600 million, with a separate limit of €10 million for foreign players. Individual player salaries are also capped, at ¥5 million before tax for Chinese players and €3 million for foreign players.^[14]

In early years, numerous players from Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America regions were signed as the foreign players in the Chinese league. Steadily, a lot of players transferred to China from major European and South American Leagues. The league has rules, at present, restricting the number of foreign players strictly to four per team. A team could use a maximum of three 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. Between 2009 and 2017, there was an additional slot for a player from AFC countries. During the middle of the 2012 season, it was decided that teams that were competing in the AFC Champions League were allowed to have two extra foreign players, which can bring the number of foreigners on a team's seven; however, the policy was removed in the 2013 season.

Policy for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwanese players has changed continually. Players from Hong Kong Football Association were considered foreigners at the beginning of 2009, but the league held back the change until the summer transfer window. After the 2010 season, players from Macau Football Association and Chinese Taipei Football Association (except goalkeepers) were not considered foreigners in CSL matches, but will be regarded as foreigners in AFC competitions. In the 2015 season, players who had not played for the Hong Kong national football team, Macau national football team or the Chinese Taipei national football team were no longer deemed native players.^[17] In the 2016 and 2017 season, players from the three associations whose contract was signed after 1 January 2016 were no longer deemed native players.^[18] From the 2018 season, a club could register one non-naturalized player from the three associations as a native player.^[19] According to the Chinese FA, a non-naturalized player refers to someone who was first registered as a professional footballer in the three football associations. Furthermore, Hong Kong or Macau players must be of Chinese descent of Hong Kong or Macau permanent resident, and Taiwanese players must be citizens of Taiwan.^[20]

As of 14 June 2024

Most goals Rank Name Years Goals Apps Ratio 1 Wu Lei 2013-2018, 2022- 146 216 0.68 2 Elkeson 2013–2021, 2023- 131 218 0.6 3 Gao Lin 2005-2009, 2011-2022 100 365 0.27 4 Eran Zahavi 2016–2020 91 105 0.87 4 Han Peng 2004–2018 87 303 0.32 5 Ricardo Goulart 2015-2021 82 135 0.61 6 Li Jinyu 2004–2010 73 151 0.48 7 Giovanni Moreno 2012–2022 66 195 0.32 8 Qu Bo 2004–2014, 2016 63 244 0.26 9 Jiang Ning 2004– 62 290 0.21 9 Xu Liang 2004–2006, 2008–2014 62 244 0.25 9 Luis Ramírez 2006,2008–2009, 2010–2011 62 143 0.43 Bold denotes players still playing in the CSL.

Most appearances Rank Name Years Apps 1 Wang Song 2004-2005, 2008-2019, 2023- 393 2 Gao Lin 2005-2009, 2011-2022 365 3 Yang Zhi 2005–2019 350 4 Zhang Yaokun 2004–2016 334 5 Liu Jianye 2005–2021 325 6 Xu Yunlong 2004–2016 315 6 Zhang Xiaofei 2004–2019 315 8 Bai Yuefeng 2006–2023 313 9 Wang Yun 2004–2019 306 10 Han Peng 2004–2018 303 Bold denotes players still playing in the CSL.

In early years Chinese and Serbian coaches achieved success in the Chinese Super League. Just like the Jia-A period, the majority of foreign coaches were from countries like Serbia, Croatia and South Korea. Nowadays most CSL clubs appoint coaches from Western Europe and South America. Guangzhou Evergrande were the first side to spend big to bring in European and South American coaches. World Cup winning managers Marcello Lippi and Luiz Felipe Scolari had successful experiences at Guangzhou Evergrande. Famous coaches who have coached in China include Fabio Capello, Felix Magath, Manuel Pellegrini, Dan Petrescu, André Villas-Boas, Cuca, Sven-Göran Eriksson, Sergio Batista, Radomir Antić.

Winning head coaches

Head coach	Club	Wins	Winning years
Marcello Lippi	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao	3	2012, 2013, 2014
Luiz Felipe Scolari	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao		2015, 2016, 2017
Ljubiša Tumbaković	Shandong Luneng Taishan	2	2006, 2008
Zhu Guanghu	Shenzhen Jianlibao	1	2004
Vladimir Petrović	Dalian Shide		2005
Gao Hongbo	Changchun Yatai		2007
Hong Yuanshuo	Beijing Guoan		2009
Branko Ivanković	Shandong Luneng Taishan		2010
Lee Jang-soo	Guangzhou Evergrande		2011
Vítor Pereira	Shanghai SIPG		2018
Fabio Cannavaro	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao		2019
Cosmin Olăroiu	Jiangsu Suning		2020
Hao Wei	Shandong Taishan		2021
Pedro Morilla	Wuhan Three Towns		2022
Javier Pereira	Shanghai Port		2023

Current head coaches

Nat.	Name	Club	Appointed	Time in charge
	Kevin Muscat	Shanghai Port	1 January 2024	168 days
	Choi Kang-hee	Shandong Taishan	16 May 2023	1 year, 32 days
	Jordi Vinyals	Zhejiang	1 January 2021	3 years, 168 days
	Seo Jung-won	Chengdu Rongcheng	12 December 2020	3 years, 188 days
	Leonid Slutsky	Shanghai Shenhua	1 January 2024	168 days
	Ricardo Soares	Beijing Guoan	15 June 2023	1 year, 2 days
	Ricardo Rodríguez	Wuhan Three Towns	5 January 2024	164 days
	Yu Genwei	Tianjin Jinmen Tiger	26 March 2021	3 years, 83 days
	Chen Yang	Changchun Yatai	5 October 2020	3 years, 256 days
	Nam Ki-il	Henan	8 January 2024	161 days
	Pablo Villar	Meizhou Hakka	6 January 2024	163 days
	Zhao Junzhe	Cangzhou Mighty Lions	23 February 2023	1 year, 115 days
	Yasen Petrov	Qingdao Hainiu	25 December 2023	175 days
	Mihajlo Jurasović	Nantong Zhiyun	5 January 2024	164 days
	Jesús Tato	Sichuan Jiuniu	21 April 2023	1 year, 57 days
	Hisashi Kurosaki	Qingdao West Coast	2 January 2024	167 days

Most games managed

Rank	Manager	Games	Club(s)
1	Ma Lin	245	Liaoning FC (2004, 2008, 2010–2013, 2015–2017); Chongqing Lifan (2005); Dalian Yifang (2014)
2	Shen Xiangfu	203	Beijing Guoan (2005–2006); Guangzhou Pharmaceutical (2008–2009); Changchun Yatai (2010–2011); Henan Jianye (2012); Shanghai Shenhua (2013–2014)
3	Ljubiša Tumbaković	178	Shandong Luneng Taishan (2004–2009); Wuhan Zall (2013)
4	Gao Hongbo	160	Xiamen Lanshi (2006); Changchun Yatai (2007–2008); Guizhou Renhe (2011–2012); Shanghai East Asia (2013); Jiangsu Sainty (2013–2015)
5	Jia Xiuquan	152	Henan Jianye (2008, 2014–2017); Shanghai Shenhua (2008–2009)
5	Tang Yaodong	152	Liaoning FC (2005–2007); Henan Jianye (2008–2010, 2014)
6	Chang Woe-ryong	149	Qingdao Jonoon (2011, 2012–2013); Dalian Aerbin (2011); Chongqing Lifan (2016–2017, 2019–2022); Henan Jianye (2018)
7	Lee Jang-soo	148	Beijing Guoan (2006–2009); Guangzhou Evergrande (2011–2012); Changchun Yatai (2016–2017); Shenzhen (2022)
9	Arie Haan	137	Chongqing Lifan (2009); Tianjin Teda (2010–2011, 2014–2015)
10	Zhu Jiong	136	Shanghai Shenxin (2010–2013); Guizhou Renhe (2014–2015)
Statistics correct as of the end of the 2022 Chinese Super League

The Chinese Super League has the highest average attendance of any football league in Asia. However, stadiums have capacity restrictions.

This table lists average attendances of clubs yearly, but only for seasons when that club played in the top division. Clubs are listed with their current names.

As of 5 April 2024

The official Chinese Super league annual awards are given to clubs, players, managers and referees based on their performance during the season.

The Fire-god trophy is the official trophy award to CSL champions. The trophy was created by the Sculpture Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and donated by the official partner of the Chinese Super League, Hengyuanxiang Group, in 2004. It consists of a pure gold trophy and a nephrite plinth base. The lower part of the trophy is the model of a Great Wall beacon tower; on the upper part, on top of the rising beacon, is a football wrapped by the earth, while the base has the engraved years and names of each Chinese Super League winner since 2004. The trophy weighs 5.548 kilograms (12.23 lb). The trophy and plinth are 52 cm (20 in) tall.

The trophy is not awarded to the winning club permanently. After the award ceremony they are awarded a replica, and they are allowed to retain the genuine trophy for one year.

It is also named the "Most Valuable Player".

Year	Footballer	Club	Nationality
2004	Zhao Junzhe	Liaoning Zhongyu	China
2005	Branko Jelić	Beijing Guoan	Serbia
2006	Zheng Zhi	Shandong Luneng Taishan	China
2007	Du Zhenyu	Changchun Yatai
2008	Emil Martínez	Shanghai Shenhua	Honduras
2009	Samuel Caballero	Changchun Yatai
2010	Duvier Riascos	Shanghai Shenhua	Colombia
2011	Muriqui	Guangzhou Evergrande	Brazil
2012	Cristian Dănălache	Jiangsu Sainty	Romania
2013	Darío Conca	Guangzhou Evergrande	Argentina
2014	Elkeson		Brazil
2015	Ricardo Goulart	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao
2016
2017	Eran Zahavi	Guangzhou R&F	Israel
2018	Wu Lei	Shanghai SIPG	China
2019	Paulinho	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao	Brazil
2023	Wu Lei	Shanghai Port	China

This award is awarded to the top goalscorer of the league that year.

Year	Top scorer	Club	Goals
2004	Kwame Ayew	Inter Shanghai	17
2005	Branko Jelić	Beijing Guoan	21
2006	Li Jinyu	Shandong Luneng Taishan	26
2007			15
2008	Éber Luís	Tianjin Teda	14
2009	Hernán Barcos Luis Ramírez	Shenzhen Asia Travel / Shanghai Shenhua Guangzhou GPC	17
2010	Duvier Riascos	Shanghai Shenhua	20
2011	Muriqui	Guangzhou Evergrande	16
2012	Cristian Dănălache	Jiangsu Sainty	23
2013	Elkeson	Guangzhou Evergrande	24
2014			28
2015	Aloísio	Shandong Luneng Taishan	22
2016	Ricardo Goulart	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao	19
2017	Eran Zahavi	Guangzhou R&F	27
2018	Wu Lei	Shanghai SIPG	27
2019	Eran Zahavi	Guangzhou R&F	29
2020	Cédric Bakambu	Beijing Guoan	14
2021	Júnior Negrão	Changchun Yatai	14
2022	Marcão	Wuhan Three Towns	27
2023	Leonardo	Changchun Yatai and Zhejiang	19

There is also an award that is awarded to the top Chinese goalscorer of that season, which was first introduced in 2011.

Year	Manager	Club	Standings	Nationality
2004	Zhu Guanghu	Shenzhen Jianlibao	Chinese Super League champions	China
2005	Vladimir Petrović	Dalian Shide	Chinese Super League champions; Chinese FA Cup winners	Serbia
2006	Ljubiša Tumbaković	Shandong Luneng Taishan	Chinese Super League champions; Chinese FA Cup winners	Serbia
2007	Gao Hongbo	Changchun Yatai	Chinese Super League champions	China
2008	Ljubiša Tumbaković	Shandong Luneng Taishan	Chinese Super League champions	Serbia
2009	Tang Yaodong	Henan Jianye	Chinese Super League third place	China
2010	Branko Ivanković	Shandong Luneng Taishan	Chinese Super League champions	Croatia
2011	Ma Lin	Liaoning Whowin	Chinese Super League third place	China
2012	Dragan Okuka	Jiangsu Sainty	Chinese Super League runners-up	Serbia
2013	Marcello Lippi	Guangzhou Evergrande	Chinese Super League champions; AFC Champions League winners	Italy
2014	Gregorio Manzano	Beijing Guoan	Chinese Super League runners-up	Spain
2015	Luiz Felipe Scolari	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao	Chinese Super League champions; AFC Champions League winners	Brazil
2016	Luiz Felipe Scolari	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao	Chinese Super League champions; Chinese FA Cup winners	Brazil
2017	Fabio Cannavaro	Tianjin Quanjian	Chinese Super League 3rd place	Italy
2018	Li Xiaopeng	Shandong Luneng Taishan	Chinese Super League 3rd place	China
2019	Li Xiaopeng	Shandong Luneng Taishan	Chinese Super League 3rd place	China
2023	Choi Kang-hee	Shandong Taishan	Chinese Super League 2nd place	South Korea

There is also an award that is awarded to the U-23 player of the year, which was first introduced in 2017.

The current official title sponsor of the Chinese Super League is C'estbon, since 2024.

As well as sponsorship for the league itself, the Chinese Super League has a number of official partners and suppliers. The official equipment supplier for the league is Nike who have had the contract since the 2005 season. According to data published by Imedia Culture Communication Co., Ltd, the sponsor value from official partners and suppliers of Chinese Super League reaches 600 million Yuan in 2017 season.^[26]

The following table shows the partners and suppliers of the Chinese Super League. Bold denotes current sponsor.

The first broadcast rights holders of the rebranded Chinese Super League was the Shanghai Media Group (SMG). In September 2003, they signed a three-year contract for 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons.^[27] The second SMG contract was signed in February 2007 for the five-year period from 2007 to 2011.^[28]

CCTV acquired the CSL television rights in 2012, and they held the rights until 2015 under annual contract.^[29] CSL was broadcast in CCTV's public cable TV channel CCTV5 and CCTV5+ but the satellite TV rights were sold to Cloud Media from 2014 to 2017.

Starting from the 2016 season, the Chinese Super League sold its television rights on a collective basis. However, it benefits CSL clubs almost equally according to CSL commercial contracts. The money is divided into three parts: 10% reserved for the Chinese football association and CSL company, which is paid out as facilities fees and management expenses, as to the remaining 90%, 81% of them is divided equally between the clubs; and 9% is awarded on a merit basis based on final league position.^[30]

The current media rights holder is the China Sports Media Co., Ltd. (CSM, simplified Chinese: 体奥动力, pinyin: tǐ ào dòng lì) CSM bought the rights for five seasons (2016–2020) for 8 billion yuan in October 2015. On January 24, 2018, The CSL and CSM reached an agreement to extend the original five-year contract to a 10-year one (2016–2025) and to raise the price to 11 billion yuan, about 1.73 billion dollars according to the exchange rate then prevailing.^[31][32]

Outside of China, currently IMG holds the global media rights to the Chinese Super League. The first contract was signed in 2016 for two seasons,^[33] and in 2018 IMG and CSM has sealed a three-year extension.^[34] The CSL is now broadcasting in 96 countries across the world.^[35]

Country/Region	Network
Australia	SBS
AustriaDACH	DAZN
GermanyDACH
Italy	OneFootball
SwitzerlandDACH	DAZN
Balkan countries  Bosnia and Herzegovina  Croatia  Montenegro  North Macedonia  Serbia  Slovenia	SportKlub
Brazil	ESPN
United States
Latin America
Canada	OneSoccer
Eurasia countries  Armenia  Azerbaijan  Belarus  Estonia  Kazakhstan  Kyrgyzstan  Latvia  Lithuania  Moldova  Tajikistan  Turkmenistan  Uzbekistan	Setanta Sports Eurasia
Georgia	Silknet
Hong Kong	TVB
India	FanCode
Israel	Sport 1
Macau	TDM
Philippines	Tap Sports
Poland	Polsat Sport
Portugal	Sport TV
Singapore	Singtel
Spain	GOL PLAY
Sub-Saharan Africa  Nigeria  South Africa  Kenya  Ghana	StarTimes
Turkey	S Sport

^DACH - other matches also available on Sportdigital

In early years the reserve league was open to all of the reserve teams from the Chinese Super League, China League One, and China League Two clubs. In 2011, the lower leagues started their own reserve league. The CSL reserve league strictly allows CSL clubs to compete, it is played at the next day of the regular league, also in home and away format, since 2018, the reserve league is held in the same venue of the regular league.

From 2014 to 2017, an elite league was held under the reserve league, restricted to players between 17 and 19 years old.

Since the inception of the CSL, the CFA has required all of its clubs to operate youth development, yet it was not a strict criteria until 2018. In the CSL club criteria created in 2017, clubs who could not meet the youth development programme criteria will be relegated to lower leagues.

According to the CSL club criteria, the youth teams of CSL clubs must have their own training center, coaching staff, and medical group, and a minimum of 15% of club budgets must be invested into youth programmes. CSL clubs are required to have 5 youth level teams at ages U19, U17, U15, U14 and U13. Clubs must have youth academies and introduce grassroots football plans to cooperate with local football associations, school and social corporations.

In 2017 the Youth League system was officially rebranded as Youth Super League. YSL is open to all the youth teams of all professional clubs, selected football academies and local FA training teams in China. Since 2018 the U19 Youth Super league is played with two groups of 18, a total of 36 clubs. Clubs plays home and away season with promotion and relegation introduced. The U17 and U15 Youth Super Leagues play in six regional leagues with 76 and 77 teams respectively. The U14 and U13 Youth Super leagues play in five regional leagues with 40 and 45 teams respectively.^[36]

Besides the Youth Super League, there are also other tournaments for youth teams across China, including Youth Championship plays in pre-season, Youth FA cup runs during the Youth Super League fixture, and Youth Champions Cup plays in off-season.

• Football in China
• Chinese Football Association
• Chinese football champions
• Chinese football records
• Chinese FA Cup
• Chinese FA Super Cup
• Chinese Jia-A League
• China League One
• China League Two
• Chinese Champions League
• List of Chinese Super League referees

• Official website (in Chinese)
• China – List of champions at the RSSSF
• Chinese Super League at theCFA.cn
• Chinese Super League at WildEast Football
• Mathematical Predictions for Chinese Super League at MaTips