Qingdao University
The club was founded in 2005 by the Qingdao University of Science and Technology as an amateur college football team named Qingdao Haizhiying F.C., where they played in the local university and regional league system. After gaining some significant success within these leagues, the club would gain interest from some sponsors and produce enough funds for the 3 million Yuan required to turn professional and enter the bottom of the Chinese pyramid by playing in the Chinese Yi League, and renaming itself Qingdao University of Science and Technology F.C.. The club's debut season in the 2009 Chinese League Two was, however, a huge disappointment- and the club finished rock-bottom within their division. This saw the club decide to remain absent in the 2010 league season and return to their regional league, however the club would return to professional football in 2011.