Chinese Super League

The Chinese Football Association Super League (Chinese: 中国足球协会超级联赛; Pinyin: Zhōngguó Zúqiú Xiéhuì Chāojí Liánsài; usually called Chinese Super League (中超联赛) or CSL; and known as Ping An Chinese Football Association Super League for sponsorship reasons) is the highest tier of professional association football in China. It is controlled by the Chinese Football Association.

The league was created in 2004 and replaced the Chinese Football Association Jia-A League.

Currently, 16 teams play in the league. The Chinese Super League has been won by 7 teams: Shanghai Shenhua, Shenzhen Jianlibao, Dalian Shide, Shandong Luneng, Changchun Yatai, Beijing Guoan, and Guangzhou Evergrande.

 2016 clubs 

 Beijing Guoan
 Changchun Yatai
 Chongqing Lifan
 Guangzhou Evergrande
 Guangzhou R&F
 Hangzhou Greentown
 Hebei CFFC
 Henan Jianye Jiangsu Suning
 Liaoning Whowin
 Shandong Luneng
 Shanghai Greenland
 Shanghai SIPG
 Shijiazhuang Ever Bright
 Tianjin Teda
 Yanbian Funde

 History 

In 1994, the Chinese Jia-A League became the country's first professional football league. People in the Chinese Football Association began to talk about creating a new league in late-2000. In 2002, the CFA made a decision to establish the Chinese Super League, which started in 2004.

 Results and statistics 

 Champions 

The following table shows who won the league and when.

 Club  Champions  Runners-up  Winning Seasons  Runners-up SeasonsGuangzhou Evergrande 5 0 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Shandong Luneng 3 2 2006, 2008, 2010 2004, 2013Beijing Guoan 1 3 2009 2007, 2011, 2014Changchun Yatai 1 1 2007 2009Dalian Shide 1 0 2005 Shenzhen 1 0 2004 Shanghai Greenland 0 3  2005, 2006, 2008Shanghai SIPG 0 1  2015Jiangsu Suning 0 1  2012Tianjin Teda 0 1  2010

 Top scorers 

SeasonTop scorerClubGoals2004 Kwame AyewInter Shanghai172005 Branko JelićBeijing Guoan212006 Li JinyuShandong Luneng262007 Li JinyuShandong Luneng152008 Éber LuísTianjin Teda142009 Hernán Barcos   Luis RamírezShenzhen Asia Travel / Shanghai Shenhua  Guangzhou GPC172010 Duvier RiascosShanghai Shenhua202011 MuriquiGuangzhou Evergrande162012 Cristian DănălacheJiangsu Sainty232013 ElkesonGuangzhou Evergrande242014 ElkesonGuangzhou Evergrande282015 AloísioShandong Luneng Taishan22

 Other websites 

 Official site of the Chinese Super League  
 Official site of the Chinese Football Association 
 RSSSF.com - China - List of Champions
 English site about the CSL

 References 

Category:Football leagues in Asia
Category:Football in China
Category:2004 establishments in Asia
Category:2000s establishments in China