Tianjin Tianhai F.C.

Tianjin Tianhai F.C. (Chinese: 天津天海足球俱乐部; pinyin: Tiānjīn Tiānhǎi Zúqiú Jùlèbù; Mandarin pronunciation: [tʰjɛ́n.tɕín.tʰjɛ́n.xàɪ]) was a Chinese football club. The team was based in Tianjin.

Tianjin Tianhai
Tiānjīn Tiānhǎi
天津天海

Full name	Tianjin Tianhai Football Club 天津天海足球俱乐部
Founded	6 June 2006; 18 years ago (6 June 2006) (as Hohhot Binhai F.C.)
Dissolved	12 May 2020; 4 years ago (12 May 2020)
Ground	Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium
Capacity	60,000
2019	Super League, 14th
Home colours Away colours

History

2006-2010: Formation and League Two

On June 6, 2006, the Tianjin Binhai Holdings Limited company would form a new football team based in Hohhot called Hohhot Binhai and would name former Chinese international player Han Jinming as their manager. They would move into the Hohhot People's Stadium while taking part at the bottom of the Chinese pyramid within the third tier at the start of the 2007 league season. By May 5, 2007, Tianjin Songjiang Sports Culture Industry Co. Ltd would take a controlling interest within the club and hired another former Chinese international player in Hao Haidong to be the club's general manager.^[1] When the club finished in a disappointing fifth within the group stages of the division it was decided that the club needed significant restructuring, which saw Hao Haidong named as chairman, Han Jinming moved to General management, Zhang Xiaorui was named as the new manager and lastly the entire team was moved to Tianjin to play within the Hedong Sports Centre.^[2] While under Zhang Xiaorui's reign results gradually improved, however while the club were constant play-off contenders they could not gain promotion and he was soon replaced by the Belgium Patrick De Wilde who guided the club to a runners-up spot and promotion at the end of the 2010 league season.^[3]

2011-2016: League One

By the 2011 season the club had already moved into the 60,000 seater Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, however despite their grand settings the team would struggle within the division and narrowly avoided relegation at the end of the season.^[4] This saw Patrick De Wilde exit soon after and the club decided to promote his assistant as well as Hao Haidong's cousin Hao Haitao into the management chair. In the 2012 league season Hao Haitao would actually guide the club to their best ever finish of sixth within the league, however at the end of the campaign Li Weiqi (李微奇) took over Hao Haidong's position as chairman and Hao Haitao followed his cousin in leaving the club.^[5] At the start of the 2013 league season Pei Encai was brought in as Head coach, however he left the team four games before the end of the season due to the passing away of his mother, which saw Zhang Xiaorui return to the club as a caretaker manager.^[6] Italian Gianni Bortoletto was brought in at the beginning of the 2014 league season, initially as a technical director before accepting the Head coach position but after a series of disappointing results he was fired on 14 June 2014.^[7] On 23 June 2014 Portuguese manager Manuel Cajuda came in for the remainder of the season.^[8] The club would once again start the following season with a new manager when Croatian coach Dražen Besek joined the team 15 December 2014.^[9] After a series of defeats, Besek was replaced by another Croatian in Goran Tomić who joined the management on 12 May 2015.^[10]

On 7 July 2015 Quanjian Nature Medicine officially took over the club.^[11] This would be their second foray into Chinese football after their sponsorship of Tianjin Teda F.C. abruptly came to an end on 30 June 2015 after a public dispute occurred on who had control over the club's player transfers, particularly in the attempted signing of the Chinese international player Sun Ke.^[12] At the start of the 2016 season the club would go through a complete overhaul, they would redesign a new badge that reflected Quanjian Nature Medicine's own logo, change the club's colours to a light blue, bring in experienced Brazilian coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo along with international players in Luís Fabiano, Jádson Rodrigues da Silva, Zhao Xuri and the player the owners originally attempted to sign, Sun Ke.^[13] On 22 October 2016, under the guidance of Fabio Cannavaro, Tianjin Quanjian defeated Meizhou Hakka 3–0 to win the 2016 China League One title and gain promotion to the 2017 Chinese Super League.^[14]

2017-2019: Super League Era

At the start of the 2017 Chinese Super League season the owners once again decided to change the team's home colours from a light blue to an all red uniform.^[15] After signing a world-class midfielder in Axel Witsel,^[16] the club cruised to third place in the 2017 season and advance to the 2018 AFC Champions League, qualifying to the continental tournament for the first time.

Quanjian Group was accused of illegal multi-level marketing and false advertisement in December 2018. After the arrest of club leader and Quanjian Group owner Shu Yuhui, the club asked the local FA to take over operations and changed its name to Tianjin Tianhai in January 2019.^[17][18][19]

On 12 May 2020, Tianjin Tianhai announced that the club was dissolved.^[20] This disbandment saved Shenzhen Kaisa from being relegated to the 2020 China League One.

Name history

• 2006–2007 Hohhot Binhai F.C. 呼和浩特滨海
• 2008–2015 Tianjin Songjiang F.C. 天津松江
• 2015–2018 Tianjin Quanjian F.C. 天津权健
• 2019–2020 Tianjin Tianhai F.C. 天津天海

Kit evolution

2006[21]

2009[22]

2016

2017

Managerial history

• Han Jinming (2007)
• Zhang Xiaorui (2008–09)
• Hao Haidong (caretaker) (2010)
• Patrick de Wilde (2010–11)
• Hao Haitao (2012)
• Pei Encai (2013)
• Zhang Xiaorui (caretaker) (2013)
• Gianni Bortoletto (2014)
• Manuel Cajuda (2014)
• Dražen Besek (2014–2015)
• Sun Jianjun (caretaker) (2015)
• Goran Tomić (2015)
• Vanderlei Luxemburgo (2015–2016)
• Fabio Cannavaro (2016–2017)
• Paulo Sousa (2017–2018)
• Shen Xiangfu (caretaker) (2018)
• Park Choong-kyun (2018)
• Choi Kang-hee (2018–2019)
• Shen Xiangfu (2019)
• Park Choong-kyun (2019)
• Li Weifeng (2019)

Honours

• China League One (tier-II)
  • Champions (1): 2016^[14]

Results

All-time league rankings

• As of the end of 2019 season.^[23][24]

Year	Tier	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Pos	FA Cup	Super Cup	Asia	Att./G	Stadium
2007	3	14	4	6	4	19	19	0	18	5 1	NH	DNQ	DNQ		Hohhot People's Stadium
2008	3	18	12	2	4	36	14	22	29 2	5[25]	NH	DNQ	DNQ		Hedong Sports Centre
2009	3	14	4	7	3	18	15	3	18 2	9[26]	NH	DNQ	DNQ		Shuidi Outer Stadium
2010	3	19	11	5	3	32	12	20	35 2	RU	NH	DNQ	DNQ		Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium
2011	2	26	5	10	11	23	31	−8	25	12	R1	DNQ	DNQ
2012	2	30	12	9	9	27	24	3	45	6	R2	DNQ	DNQ	2,998	Tianjin Tuanbo Football Stadium
2013	2	30	8	11	11	31	36	−5	35	10	R3	DNQ	DNQ	2,247
2014	2	30	12	7	11	39	33	6	43	7	R3	DNQ	DNQ	2,511
2015	2	30	9	9	12	28	33	−5	36	9	R3	DNQ	DNQ	7,369
2016	2	30	18	5	7	61	27	34	59	W	QF	DNQ	DNQ	12,165	Haihe Educational Football Stadium
2017	1	30	15	9	6	46	33	13	54	3	QF	DNQ	DNQ	24,877
2018	1	30	9	9	12	41	48	−7	36	9	R16	DNQ	QF	19,695
2019	1	30	4	13	13	40	53	-13	25	14	QF	DNQ	DNQ	16,907	Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium

• ^Note 1 : In North League ^Note 2 : In group stage.

Key

•   China top division
•   China second division
•   China third division
•   Champions
•   Runners-up
•   Third place
•   Relegated
• Pld = Played
• W = Games won
• D = Games drawn
• L = Games lost
• F = Goals for
• A = Goals against
• Pts = Points
• Pos = Final position
• DNQ = Did not qualify
• DNE = Did not enter
• NH = Not Held
• - = Does Not Exist
• R1 = Round 1
• R2 = Round 2
• R3 = Round 3
• R4 = Round 4
• F = Final
• SF = Semi-finals
• QF = Quarter-finals
• R16 = Round of 16
• Group = Group stage
• GS2 = Second Group stage
• QR1 = First Qualifying Round
• QR2 = Second Qualifying Round
• QR3 = Third Qualifying Round

Continental results

Season	Competition	Round	Opposition	Home	Away	Rank /Agg.
2018	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Kitchee	3–0	1–0	2nd
			Kashiwa Reysol	3–2	1–1
			Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors	4–2	3–6
		Round of 16	Guangzhou Evergrande	0–0	2–2	2–2 (a)
		Quarter-finals	Kashima Antlers	0–3	0–2	0–5

Notable players

Had international caps for their respective countries.

Europe

Belgium

• Axel Witsel (2017–2018)

Estonia

• Taavi Rähn (2011–2012)

Slovenia

• Aleksandar Rodić (2011–2012)

South America

Brazil

• Jádson (2016)
• Luís Fabiano (2016)
• Alexandre Pato (2017–2019)

Asia

China

• Zhang Xiaorui (2008)
• Huang Yong (2009–2010)
• Yang Jun (2015–2018)
• Zhang Shuo (2015–2017)
• Sun Ke (2016–2020)
• Zhao Xuri (2016–2018)
• Zhang Lu (2016–2020)

Hong Kong

• Ng Wai Chiu (2013–2016)
• Jean-Jacques Kilama (2016–2017)

South Korea

• Kwon Kyung-won (2017–2020)

References

1. "天津松江足球俱乐部". enorth.com.cn. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
2. "China 2007". RSSSF. 18 Apr 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
3. "China 2010 Yijidui". RSSSF. 10 Dec 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
4. "China League One 2011". soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
5. "松江宣布郝海东下课裴恩才挂帅 携泰达战略合作". sports.sohu.com. 2012-11-20. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
6. "松江队教练裴恩才将暂时休假 无法指挥接下四轮". sports.sohu.com. 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
7. "松江宣布主帅加尼因成绩差下课 新帅人选近期公布". sports.sina.com.cn. 2014-06-15. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
8. "卡胡达执鞭天津松江 葡萄牙众大牌皆为得意弟子". sports.enorth.com.cn. 2014-06-24. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
9. "松江官方宣布拜塞克出任新赛季主教练". sports.sina.com.cn. 2014-12-15. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
10. "天津松江正式换帅 上赛季中甲最佳主帅接任". sports.sina.com.cn. 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
11. "权健并购松江正式签约 为天津足球发展添新动力". sports.enorth.com.cn. 2015-07-07. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
12. "QUANJIAN TO PURCHASE TIANJIN SONGJIANG; READY TO COMPETE WITH TEDA". wildeastfootball.net. 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
13. "Q权健老板:中甲扩军力度不足 选国脚应看实力". jingji.sports.cn. 2016-03-11. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
14. "Tianjin and Guizhou win promotion to the Chinese Super League". South China Morning Post. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
15. "天津权健七大新援齐亮相". oeeee.com. 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
16. "Belgian ace Axel Witsel spurns Juventus to join China's Tianjin Quanjian". scmp.com. 2017-01-04. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
17. White, Johnathan (January 9, 2019). "Alexandre Pato to leave Tianjin Quanjian after Chinese Super League side caught up in owner's arrest". South China Morning Post. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
18. 足协公告同意权健更名：因内部原因改为天津天海. 新浪体育 [Sina Sports] (in Chinese (China)). January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
19. 关于天津权健足球俱乐部有限责任公司更名的公告 (Press release) (in Chinese (China)). Chinese FA. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
20. "天津天海官方宣布解散 正式退出中超联赛". Sina Sports (in Chinese). 12 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
21. "用球衣解读内蒙古职业足球的前世今生". sohu.com. 2016-05-20. Retrieved 2017-12-02.
22. "天津松江队2009赛季比赛队服谍照！". tfdccn.com. 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2017-12-02.
23. "China – List of Champions". RSSSF. 10 Oct 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
24. "天津权健". sodasoccer.com. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
25. 2008年中国足球协会乙级联赛决赛阶段比赛名次 fa.org.cn 2013-04-30 Retrieved 2016-03-04
26. 2009年中国足球协会乙级联赛决赛阶段比赛名次 fa.org.cn 2013-04-30 Retrieved 2016-03-04

External links