Not many people know much about this new emerging league in Asia. High money transfers, international coaches managing the teams and tv deals to broadcast the games worldwide.
Today i am going to give you a run down of all things about the CSL.
Players
The number of high profile players plying their trade in China has increased dramatically over the last few months. Players from all corners of the world have moved for mega money deals with the £45 millon move for Brazilian star Hulk moving to Shanghai SIPG being the standout. Joining Hulk at SIPG is former Sunderland player Asamoah Gyan who is making £227,000 a week. Frighting figures. Also playing in Shanghai for Greenland Shenua is 3 players that we should all recognise with Demba Ba, Fredy Guarin and Obafemi Martins. The number of Brazilian players in China are the highest i think they have been in a long while with names like Ramires, Alex Teixeria,Paulinho and Jo all made the move to clubs like Jiangsu Suning and Guangzhou Evergrande. Colombian Jackson Martinez transferred from Spanish giants Athletico Madrid to also join Guangzhou this year for a fee of just below £40 millon. Other well know names in the league are Graziano Pelle, Stephane Mbia, Gervinho, Papiss Cisse and Ezequiel Lavezzi. Lavezzi being the arguably the most high profile player who currently plays in the league after joining from PSG.
Coaches
High profile players is not the only thing China can attract with quality managers from across the globe now working in the country. Biggest name currently in the league is World Cup winning manager Luiz Felipe Scolari who is at Guangzhou Evergrade. The move has been a success as after winning the Super league and the AFC Champions League in 2015 and also adding the Chinese FA Super Cup to the trophy cabinet in 2016, Guangzhou are currently sitting 10 points clear at the top of the table are on course to win the league again. Scolari’s main rival in the league is Swede and former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson. Having been manager at Shanghai SIPG since 2014 and signed the international star Hulk this season he will be hoping to equal the second place finish achieved in 2015. Other notable coaches are Felix Magath who is now at Shandong Luneng Taishan and former Everton midfielder Li Tie at Hebei China Fortune. Previous coaches in the country included World Cup winners Marcello Lippi and Fabio Cannavaro at Guangzhou Evergrade, Jean Tigana and Nicolas Anelka at Shanghai Greenland and Dan Petrescu at Jiangsu Suning.
CSL – What next?
What is in store next for the League? Can the amount of spending be continued year after year and will the quality of player being attracted get higher with the increased wages that can be offered. Players could go over play for a year, make millions and experience a different culture and league and then come home and continue to play in their respective league. I would certainly do that if i was a player. Coaches will be attracted for the same reason. To try something new and experience managing in a new league. I think we will start to see even more players and managers to go over in the coming seasons and i think it won’t be long till we see a top quality British player to make the move to Asia.
Well there you have it. An insight to the Chinese Super League and i hope you now know a few of the players and managers who are over there.
I hope you all enjoyed the post.Let me know if you would like more of these kinda topics.
Until next time
Derek
Footballs11blog 