From dynasty to decline: Ex-champions Guangzhou barred from Chinese leagues

Guangzhou FC, China’s most decorated football club, will not compete professionally next season, marking a dramatic end to their illustrious run.

The Chinese Football Association denied the eight-time Chinese Super League (CSL) champions entry due to unresolved debts.

Guangzhou’s fall from grace underscores the end of an era defined by extravagance. During their prime, the club secured two AFC Champions League titles (2013, 2015), finished fourth at the FIFA Club World Cup, and announced plans for a 100,000-capacity stadium.

Their meteoric rise began in 2010 when China Evergrande acquired the second-tier team, renaming it Guangzhou Evergrande and aligning with President Xi Jinping’s vision of transforming China into a football superpower.

Under Italy’s Marcello Lippi, Guangzhou claimed three CSL titles and an AFC Champions League trophy. Luiz Felipe Scolari later added seven trophies in just over two years.

Big names like Paulinho, Alberto Gilardino, and Jackson Martinez joined, while rival Chinese clubs spent heavily to lure international stars such as Hulk and Oscar.

However, financial sustainability faltered. A “luxury tax” and salary caps imposed by the Chinese Football Association curbed the league’s spending spree.

Guangzhou Evergrande, rebranded as Guangzhou FC, struggled as Evergrande Group defaulted on debts during China’s real estate crisis. The club filed for bankruptcy in 2022, canceling ambitious projects and selling players, leading to relegation.

Denied professional play for 2025, Guangzhou issued an apology to fans, stating, “We will not change our original intention and do our best to support the development of Chinese football.”

Their legacy now rests as a cautionary tale of ambition and financial mismanagement.