Gao Hongbo
Yin Tiesheng would leave the club in 2004 to take the Chinese U20 head coach position and Chen Jingang was brought in as the new manager. Within his reign Chen Jingang guided the club to a runners-up spot in the China League One division in 2005 and promotion to the Super League. In the club's debut season they finished fourth, however Chen Jingang was relieved of his duties after he lost the dressing room by threatening to dock player wagers if he was unsatisfied with their performances. In 2007 Gao Hongbo was brought as the new manager and in his debut season he won the Chinese Super League title with them. This would see Changchun allowed entry to the 2008 AFC Champions League for the first time along with Beijing Guoan and played their first game against Vietnamese football club Bình Dương on 12 March 2008 in a 2–1 victory While the club finished the group runners-up only one team was allowed to go through the knock out stages and the club crashed out of the tournament, this unfortunately affected the club's league performance and Gao Hongbo was fired during the season.