Editor's note:
China sadly bid farewell to the World Cup again. But the Chinese Super League just experienced a season of excitement and surprises- in large part provided by international players.
Guangzhou Evergrande FC, who moved up to the Chinese Super League (CSL) and claimed the title this year, ignited controversy over spending big money on international players. Then seemingly all of a sudden, all 16 clubs of the league have foreign players out front. Of the top 20 CSL scorers, there are 14 foreigners. And only two out of the top 10 scorers are Chinese. It looks like the 8-year-old league has gradually come back on the track of a free market.
Below are some foreign players and coaches who've attracted attention this season, with some more successful than others. Maybe spending top money to get help from overseas is the first step Chinese soccer makes toward revival. (Photos/ CFP, Xinhua and agencies)
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Darío Leonardo Conca |
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The most expensive player in the CSL by far made a glamorous debut on July 14, when Evergrande hosted Nanchang Hengyuan. He stepped onto the field in the last 20 minutes, setting off chants of his name with crafty and pinpoint passes and a 38-meter goal. Related story: |
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Luiz Guilherme da Conceicao Silva "Muriqui"
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The Brazilian ranks as the top CSL scorer in 2011. He is the only one of Evergrande's six foreign aids who was with the team when it was relegated to the second tier League One as punishment for match fixing. His amazing goal rate helped Guangzhou get back up to the top flight. Related story: |
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Leandro Netto de Macedo
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Luis Salmerón
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Both South American scorers helped to lift their clubs, once top of the Chinese football clubs, above relegation. De Macedo signed for another two years with Henan Construction on Nov 3, one day after the CSL 2011 was finished. |
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Christian Danalache
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Aleksandar Jevtic
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Jiangsu Sainty scored 43 goals this season, of which 24 go to Danalache and Jevtic. The club defeated visitor Dalian Shide 4-0 in the 13th round, with Danalache scoring twice. It beat Shide again 3-0 when it visited the latter in the 29th round. Danalache scored a penalty, while Jevtic, who joined the club in July, converted a header-relay into a goal. In the 28th round, Sainty beat the star-studded champions Evergrande, 5-2. Jevtic scored once, and Danalache doubled his goal in the 52nd minutes. |
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Walter Julián Martínez Ramos
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Guoan, who reached the second place this season, ended its contract with the Honduras right winger.
His skills and height may have fallen short of what coach Pacheco would have expected in a forward.
After being injured on June 19 in a CONCACAF Gold Cup match with Costa Rica, he slipped from his regular performance back in Guo'an, but still scored the second most goals for the club. |
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Filippo Inzaghi, Italy
The first international football great who is rumored to be considering joining the China Super League (CSL) is AC Milan's Italian midfielder Inzaghi. As his contract with Milan will run out next year, the once-prolific scorer, who has been struggling with injuries, set his eyes on the Chinese league giants Shandong Luneng club. But the transfer may be rejected by Luneng. "There's no doubt about Inzaghi's strength, but he'll turn 39 next year. Too old for us," an unnamed high-ranking official from Luneng club said, according to local media in Shandong province. Would Chinese fans get the chance to witness the legendary striker's skills and charm, making up for his absence in the Italian Super Cup at Bird's Nest? It is still yet to be known. |
Carlos Tevez, Argentina
Manchester City's striker Carlos Tevez is expected to switch to China's super league as the Argentine star's relationship with Mancini-led City deteriorated after he refused to warm up in their Champions League match at Bayern Munich in late September. "Tevez contacted a Chinese football club at the end of last season, but his China trip was aborted for some unknown reasons," an insider said in the Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post. "Now the club has extended their invitation to Tevez." When rumors spread about City's plan to sell Tevez's contract in January in a £25 million deal, the Chinese club made overtures to the striker. Hopefully we'll see in a certain CSL game some powerful shoots and tango flair celebrations by the football genius. |
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Nicolas Anelka, France
The 32-year-old forward, who has managed just one goal in 14 appearances in all competitions this campaign, comes out of contract at Stamford Bridge at the end of this season. Anelka's contractual situation has seen him linked with a host of clubs, which a Shanghai Shenhua official said would price the CSL outfit out of such a deal. |
Sven Goran Eriksson, Sweden (Coach)
Shandong Luneng FC of the CSL has denied that they were contacting Swedish coach Sven Goran Eriksson, who managed England, Mexico and Cote d'Ivoire. But the club admits that they have received his statistics. The British newspaper The Independent said Eriksson's people have been searching for opportunities in China. Though Shandong Luneng is hedging on its next coach, Eriksson still has plenty of chances from other CSL clubs who are eager to draw experienced internationals in order to survive in the league. |
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The loss to Iraq was the last straw. |
Produced by Wang Qingyun and Liu Shanshan
Nov 17, 2011
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