Chinese Jia-A League

The National Football Jia A League (simplified Chinese, commonly known as Jia-A, was the highest tier of professional football in the People's Republic of China, during 1994 through 2003, operating under the auspices of the Chinese Football Association.

Chinese Jia-A League
Founded1987 (Semi-professional)
1994 (Professional)
Country China
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toChinese Jia-B League
Domestic cup(s)Chinese FA Cup
International cup(s)AFC Champions League
Most championshipsDalian Shide
(7 titles)

The Chinese Professional Football League was established in 1994. Under the direct supervision of the CFA's Professional League Committee, this nationwide league was divided into Divisions 1 and 2. Division 1 was subdivided into Divisions 1A and 1B, Jia A and Jia B, Jia being the Chinese word for top or first. Division 2 was and still is subdivided into regional divisions.

History

Pre history

Pre 1980, China National League clubs was owned by their respective local physical culture and sports committees, sports institutes, and army sports units. Factory-owned clubs were not allowed to participate in national leagues. Dalian Dockyard, founded in 1946, was a factory-owned club, and as such could only participate in regional tournaments and national workers championship matches. In 1980,the Chinese Football Association (CFA) started to allow factory clubs to play in national leagues. Dalian Dockyard entered the National League in 1981, and in 1983, became Dalian FC, the current Dalian Shide.

In the mid-1980s, the CFA encourage factories and companies to sponsor government-owned clubs. In 1984, Guangdong, Beijing, Guangzhou and Tianjin teams were sponsored by big companies for the first time. CCTV started to show domestic league matches to the whole country. According to some articles, the match between Beijing Snowflakes and Guangdong Wanbao was a turning point for football fan participation. In 1988, Liaoning became China's first professional club, soon becoming one of Asia's best club. Liaoning was the 1990 ACC Champions, 1991 runner-up, and 1987 third place team.

The foundation

In 1986, CFA tried to find a way to found a semi-pro league, that season National League division 1 signed its first sponsor contract, Goldlion became first main sponsor of China football league.gradually more and more fans bought tickets to watch football leagues.

In 1987 the National League Division 1 was divided into two levels- Jia-A (8 teams) and Jia-B (12 teams), CFA never admit there was a semi-pro league before 1993, because of the restrict by some laws, the enterprises could only cooperate with the government in club managements. so actually we could consider it as an enterprise league though not so accurate to describe the league.

the 8 Jia-A teams in 1987 are:

Liaoning Dongyao - Now Liaoning FC, became professional team in 1988

Tianjing Seagull - Now Tianjin Teda, became pro club in 1995

Shanghai Shenzhou - Name changed to Shanghai Shenhua in 1991 and became pro club in 1993, now Shanghai Shenhua United FC

Shandong - Now Shandong Luneng Taishan, became pro-club in 1993

August first - the Army team

Beijing Snowflakes - Name Changed to Beijing Guoan in 1992 and became pro-clubs

Guangzhou Baiyunshan - Now Guangzhou Yiyao, became professional club in 1992

Hubei Energy - Now Wuhan Guanggu, became professional club in 1994

Professionalism

In the early 1990s, CFA allows enterprises to purchase football clubs and manage them, whether they are state-owned enterprises or private-owned companies, Dalian Hualu - the former Dalian Dockyard, was bought by a private-owned company, Name changed to Dalian Wanda and became a professional club in 1993.

In 1992, CFA made an important decision - The China professional league will start in 1994, they order all the Jia-A clubs set up professional system before 1994, and for Jia-B clubs, they must realize professional structural reform before 1995. after that CFA hold a semi-pro football championship in 1993, and finally, in 1994, first ever professional leagues in China football history started. and in 1995, Jia-B announced to be a pro-league, which is still the second level. Jia-A and Jia-B, was named as C-league to represent the professional stage.

From Jia-A to CSL

Compared to Jia A, the Chinese Super League is a lot more demanding on teams. The CFA and CSL committee has imposed a range of minimum criteria to ensure professional management and administration, financial probity and a progressive youth development programme at every club. besides the regular professional league, CSL also has reserve league, U-19 League, U-17 League and U-15 League, also some cups for the young boys.

the second division, Jia B, with the new name China League, also has a new system.

The CSL and China League'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 the influx of more higher quality foreign coaches and players; and gradually establish the European system for player registrations and transfers.

Jia-A League champions

Semi-pro seasons (1987-1993)

Season Winners Total wins Runners-up Third-place Number of clubs
1987 Liaoning 1 Tianjin Shanghai 8
1988 Liaoning 2 Shandong Shanghai 21
1989 China B 1 Liaoning Shanghai 8
1990 Liaoning 3 August 1st Dalian 8
1991 Liaoning 4 Shanghai Beijing 8
1992 Liaoning 5 Guangzhou FC Dalian 8
1993 Liaoning 6 Guangdong Beijing 8

Professional seasons (1994-2003)

Season Winners Total wins Runners-up Third-place fourth-placed Number of clubs
1994 Dalian Wanda 1 Guangzhou Apollo Shanghai Shenhua Liaoning Yuandong 12
1995 Shanghai Shenhua 1 Beijing Guoan Dalian Wanda Guangdong Hongyuan 12
1996 Dalian Wanda 2 Shanghai Shenhua August 1st Beijing Guoan 12
1997 Dalian Wanda 3 Shanghai Shenhua Beijing Guoan Yanbian Aodong 12
1998 Dalian Wanda 4 Shanghai Shenhua Beijing Guoan Guangzhou Songri 14
1999 Shandong Luneng 1 Liaoning Fushun Sichuan Quanxing Chongqing Longxin 14
2000 Dalian Shide F.C. 5 Shanghai Shenhua Sichuan Quanxing Chongqing Longxin 14
2001 Dalian Shide F.C. 6 Shanghai Shenhua Liaoning Fushun Sichuan Quanxing 14
2002 Dalian Shide F.C. 7 Shenzhen Ping'an Beijing Guoan Shandong Luneng 15
2003 Shanghai Shenhua -- 1 Shanghai International Dalian Shide F.C. Shenzhen Jianlibao 15

^1 Shanghai Shenhua were stripped of the title on 19 February 2013 for the match-fixing scandal in this season.[1]

Most successful clubs (1994-2003)

ClubChampionsRunners-UpWinning SeasonsRunners-Up Seasons
Dalian Shide F.C.
7
0
1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002
Shanghai Shenhua
1
5
1995, 2003 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001
Shandong Luneng
1
0
1999
Guangzhou Evergrande
0
1
1994
Beijing Guoan
0
1
1995
Liaoning Fushun
0
1
1999
Shenzhen FC
0
1
2002
Shanghai International
0
1
2003

Former clubs (1994-2003)

Club Seasons in Jia-A League Best finish Worst finish Current league
Shenzhen Jianlibao 1996, 1998 to 2003 2nd, 2002 12th, 1998, 1999 Chinese Super League
Shandong Luneng Taishan 1994 to 2003 1st, 1999 12th, 2003 Chinese Super League
Shanghai Shenhua 1994 to 2003 1st, 1995 12th, 2002 Chinese Super League
Beijing Guoan 1994 to 2003 2nd, 1995 9th, 2003 Chinese Super League
Guangzhou Apollo 1994 to 1998 2nd, 1994 14th, 1998 Chinese Super League
Chongqing Lifan 1997 to 2003 4th, 1999, 2000 13th, 2003 Chinese Super League
Shenyang Ginde 1994, 1998 to 2003 5th, 2003 14th, 2001 Chinese Super League
Tianjin Teda 1995 to 1997, 1999 to 2003 7th, 1999, 2001 11th, 1997 Chinese Super League
Jiangsu Sainty 1994 12th, 1994 Chinese Super League
Shanghai International 2002 to 2003 2nd, 2003 9th, 2002 China League One
Qingdao Jonoon 1995, 1997 to 2003 6th, 1998 13th, 2001 China League Two
Dalian Shide 1994 to 2003 1st, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 9th, 1999 Defunct
Sichuan Guancheng 1994 to 2003 3rd, 1998, 2000 14th, 2002 Defunct
Bayi 1994 to 1998, 2001 to 2003 3rd, 1996 14th, 2003 Defunct
Liaoning FC 1994 to 1995, 1999 to 2003 2nd, 1999 12th, 1995 Defunct
Yunnan Hongta 2000 to 2003 7th, 2002, 2003 12th, 2000 Defunct
Shaanxi Guoli 2001 to 2003 9th, 2001 15th, 2002, 2003 Defunct
Xiamen Lanshi 2000 13th, 2000 Defunct
Yanbian FC 1994 to 2000 4th, 1997 14th, 2000 Defunct
Wuhan Hongjinlong 1998 to 1999 8th, 1998 14th, 1999 Defunct
Guangzhou Songri 1996, 1998 to 1999 4th, 1998 13th, 1999 Defunct
Guangdong Hongyuan 1994 to 1997 4th, 1995 12th, 1997 Defunct

Attendances

Season averages

SeasonTotal AttendanceGamesAverageChangeHigh avg.TeamNo. Of ClubsRelegation Slots
1992976,0005617,429--25,000Guangzhou Baiyunshan8-
19942,155,00013216,326-6.3%40,000Sichuan Quanxing122
19953,140,28013223,790+45.7%40,182Sichuan Quanxing122
19963,203,12213224,266+2.0%42,272Jinan Taishan122
19972,801,10013221,220-14.4%39,180Sichuan Quanxing122
19983,883,00018221,335+0.5%39,713Shanghai Shenhua142
19993,623,50018219,909-7.2%33,538Shandong Luneng142
20003,622,00018219,901-0.1%35,615Shenyang Ginde142
20013,329,87218218,296-8.8%38,700Shanxi Guoli14-
20023,146,64021014,984-22.1%32,429Beijing Guo'an15-
20033,719,70021017,710+18.2%30,500Dalian Shide153

Attendance by clubs

This table lists average attendances of Jia-A League clubs during 1994-2003 yearly, but only for seasons when that club played in the top division. Club names are as of 2003 season.

Team Crowd average
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
August 1st 15,818 18,818 12,091 16,000 16,769 - - 14,385 13,429 13,071
Beijing Guoan 14,091 26,364 36,182 24,727 27,538 24,231 18,692 15,385 32,429 16,500
Chongqing Lifan - - - 27,727 24,000 17,231 16,615 21,615 14,893 19,286
Dalian Shide 26,636 22,273 29,364 19,455 27,769 17,769 27,077 21,385 18,429 30,500
Guangdong Hongyuan 9,091 20,545 15,182 9,091 - - - - - -
Guangzhou FC 10,545 18,818 13,091 15,364 5,385 - - - - -
Guangzhou Songri - - 11,727 - 7,308 12,308 - - - -
Jiangsu Sainty 5,364 - - - - - - - - -
Liaoning FC 15,364 22,727 - - - 24,538 16,846 15,846 6,964 13,786
Qingdao Jonoon - 13,364 - 10,545 11,538 12,192 16,923 15,308 6,214 12,429
Shandong Luneng Taishan 19,727 24,545 42,272 22,545 28,231 33,538 27,231 21,385 21,571 23,286
Shanghai International - - - - - - - - 17,500 17,821
Shanghai Shenhua 20,909 27,909 26,727 19,636 39,713 17,462 18,462 18,000 12,464 22,214
Shanxi Guoli - - - - - - - 38,700 9,500 19,357
Shenyang Ginde 5,591 - - - 15,077 11,923 35,615 12,000 14,500 18,857
Shenzhen Jianlibao - - 18,182 - 19,000 20,769 15,769 16,231 15,571 18,357
Sichuan Guancheng 40,000 40,182 41,455 39,180 34,231 33,077 23,462 20,654 9,607 11,786
Tianjin Teda - 19,173 20,345 17,091 - 13,692 13,692 10,154 9,250 13,000
Wuhan Yaqi - - - - 22,077 12,077 - - - -
Xiamen Lanshi - - - - - - 16,615 - - -
Yanbian FC 21,818 27,818 25,545 33,000 27,538 26,692 12,385 - - -
Yunnan Hongta - - - - - - 15,923 16,846 9,126 14,071
Whole season 16,326 23,790 24,266 21,220 21,335 19,909 19,901 18,296 14,984 17,710

Awards

The official Chinese Jia-A League annual awards are given to players, managers and referees based on their performance during the season.

Most valuable player

YearFootballerClubNationality
1994Li BingLiaoning Yuandong China
1995Fan ZhiyiShanghai Shenhua China
1996Su MaozhenShandong Luneng China
1997Jorge Luis CamposBeijing Guoan Paraguay
1998Hao HaidongDalian Wanda China
1999Qu ShengqingLiaoning FC China
2000Yang ChenEintracht Frankfurt China
2001Li TieLiaoning FC China
2002Zheng ZhiShenzhen Jianlibao China
2003Jörg AlbertzShanghai Shenhua Germany

Golden Boot award

Season Top scorer Club Goals
1994 Hu Zhijun Guangzhou Apollo 17
1995 Fan Zhiyi Shanghai Shenhua 15
1996 Su Maozhen Shandong Luneng Taishan 13
1997 Hao Haidong Dalian Wanda 14
1998 Hao Haidong Dalian Wanda 18
1999 Qu Shengqing Liaoning Fushun 17
2000 Casiano Delvalle Shandong Luneng Taishan 15
2001 Hao Haidong Dalian Shide 16
2002 Li Jinyu Liaoning FC 15
2003 Saul Martínez
Li Yi
Kwame Ayew
Shanghai Shenhua
Shenzhen Jianlibao
Changsha Ginde
14

Sponsors

Sponsorships
Season Sponsor Annual Value Official League Name
1994 Marlboro $1.2 million[2] Marlboro Jia-A League
1995 Marlboro $1.32 million Marlboro Jia-A League
1996 Marlboro $1.44 million Marlboro Jia-A League
1997 Marlboro $1.56 million Marlboro Jia-A League
1998 Marlboro $1.68 million Marlboro Jia-A League
1999 Pepsi $10 million Pepsi Jia-A League
2000 Pepsi $11 million Pepsi Jia-A League
2001 Pepsi $12 million Pepsi Jia-A League
2002 Pepsi $13 million Pepsi Jia-A League
2003 Siemens Mobile $5 million Siemens Mobile Jia-A League

References

  1. 中国足协纪律委员会处罚决定(001-038号) (in Chinese). Chinese Football Association. 2013-02-18. Archived from the original on 2013-04-26. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  2. "历数职业联赛赞助商 万宝路最经典西门子最受伤-搜狐体育". sports.sohu.com. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
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