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Dalian Professional F.C.

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This article is about the men's football club. For the women's football club, see Dalian Professional W.F.C..
Dalian Professional
Dàlián Rén
大连人
logo
Full nameDalian Professional Football Club
大连人职业足球俱乐部
Nickname(s)Blue Hawks
Founded20 September 2009; 15 years ago (2009-09-20)
Dissolved17 January 2024; 10 months ago (2024-01-17)
GroundDalian Suoyuwan Football Stadium
Capacity63,000
2023Chinese Super League, 15th of 16 (relegated)
Websitehttp://www.dlpro.com.cn/

Dalian Professional Football Club (Chinese: 大连人职业足球俱乐部; pinyin: Dàlián Rén Zhíyè Zúqiú Jùlèbù; lit. 'The Dalianese F.C.'), known as Dalian Pro, was a Chinese professional football club based in Dalian, Liaoning, which mostly competed in the Chinese Super League. Dalian Pro played its home matches at various grounds across Dalian, including the Dalian Sports Centre Stadium, the Dalian Suoyuwan Football Stadium, the Jinzhou Stadium, and the Puwan Stadium.

The club was refounded on September 20, 2009, by Dalian Aerbin Group Company, Ltd., and started from the third tier of the Chinese football pyramid, China League Two. Winning two consecutive league titles in the second and third tier professional football leagues, they were promoted to the top tier in the 2012 Chinese Super League season, where they experienced their highest ever placing of fifth in the same season.[1] In 2014, they were relegated from the Chinese Super League. In December 2015, they were renamed Dalian Yifang Football Club. In October 2017, they were crowned champions of China League One and once again secured promotion to the Chinese Super League. On May 25, 2019, Dalian Yifang Football Club was renamed Dalian Professional Football Club, with the new logo unveiled on January 21, 2020. The team dissolved on 17 January 2024 due to unaffordable historical debts.

History

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Dalian Aerbin (2009–2014)

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On September 20, 2009, Dalian Aerbin Group Co. Ltd. established a new professional football club named Dalian Aerbin (Chinese: 大连阿尔滨) and hired former Chinese footballer Li Ming to become the club manager. The club's name Aerbin comes from the Manchu language, meaning a place with water, which is also the name of a small town in Jinzhou District of Dalian where Dalian Aerbin Group Co. Ltd is located. They would soon move into the Dalian University Stadium in the Dalian Development Area and bring in Chi Shangbin as their co-manager and Sun Xianlu as their head coach.[2] Starting in the third-tier league, the club made their debut in the 2010 China League Two season. The club brought in established top-tier Chinese Super League players such as Guo Hui, Chang Lin, and Yang Lin. The quality of these players helped the club win their regional division section and later, the league title over Tianjin Songjiang as the club won the championship.[3]

In the following season, the club hired its first foreign coach, Bulgarian manager Aleksandar Stankov. Dalian Aerbin F.C. set up a surprising winning streak and won the 2011 China League One championship.[4] With their meteoric rise to the Super League, the club decided to use the 30,775-seater Jinzhou Stadium as its home stadium and shared it with their local rival Dalian Shide, as well as signing a more experienced manager in Chang Woe-Ryong, who had previously managed in the Chinese Super League with Qingdao Jonoon.[5] The club initially struggled in the league and the club brought in Aleksandar Stanojević as the head coach.[6] By July 11, 2012, Dalian Aerbin brought in a marquee player in the form of former Barcelona F.C. midfielder Seydou Keita, who departed the Spanish team on a free transfer and helped ensure Dalian Aerbin remained within the league.[7] At the end of the 2012 league season, Stanojevć managed to not only avoid relegation but actually guided the club to fifth within the league.

On 30 November 2012, Aerbin Group acquired the local rival Dalian Shide F.C. by taking on responsibility of their 330 million RMB debt after Dalian Shide's chairman Xu Ming was arrested for bribing and corruption.[8] In the hope of bringing in a harmonious merger of the two teams, former Dalian Shide manager Xu Hong was brought in for the start of the 2013 Chinese Super League. However, after only 63 days in charge, he had to resign after the Chinese Football Association found that he had manipulated a match while he was a manager at Sichuan First City and was given a 5-year suspension from all football activity, which forced Li Ming to start the season as their caretaker manager.[9] The Chinese Football Association called off this merger, according to regulations, and decided that former Dalian Shide players should join the free market, while Dalian Aerbin could only sign them through a normal transfer, 5 at most, instead of taking over the whole team.[10] This incident caused Aerbin to face some serious financial problems, being unable to pay the salaries, bonuses, or even maintenance of the stadium.[11] At the end of the 2014 Chinese Super League, Aerbin was relegated to China League One.

Dalian Yifang (2015–2019)

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With Dalian Aerbin back in the China League One division and with the loss of revenue generated from being in the top tier, the club could not afford to maintain their squad, which saw a mass exodus of players.[12] Mikael Stahre was hired as the head coach at the start of the 2015 league campaign and looked to be pushing for promotion, which saw Dalian Yifang Group Co. Ltd on 8 July 2015, buy majority shares within the club.[13] The purchase was promoted by Wang Jianlin and his Dalian Wanda Group, who are a main shareholder of the Yifang Group (一方, "one region"), with the investment signaling a return of football ownership from Wang Jianlin, who had previously owned Dalian Wanda F.C.[14] The club failed to win promotion back into the top tier after finishing third place at the end of the 2015 season and officially changed their name to Dalian Yifang F.C. (Chinese: 大连一方) in December 2015.[15] On 10 July 2015, in a press conference to confirm the Yifang Group's investment, the general manager, Shi Xueqing (石雪清), admitted that the club was still losing money.[16]

In the 2017 China League One season, Dalian Yifang won the division title and promotion back into the top tier under head coach Juan Ramón López Caro.[17] Despite this success, the Dalian Football Association announced that he was being replaced by Ma Lin, which saw speculation grow that the club was still in financial difficulties and was looking for the local government Dalian Sports Bureau to take over the club.[18] On 20 February 2018, the Wanda Group took full control on the club after selling their 17% share in Atlético Madrid to Israeli businessman Idan Ofer on 14 February 2018.[19] The Wanda Group would use the money taken from Atlético Madrid and invest it in bringing in Argentinian international Nicolás Gaitán and Belgium international Yannick Carrasco.[20]

The team and the Wanda Group sought further influence in the 2019 season. In February 2019, the club completed another marquee signing from Europe, this time acquiring the services of Napoli man Marek Hamšík, who signed for a reported fee of about €20 million (£18m/$23m). Gaitán left the team to play for the MLS side Chicago Fire after just one season.[21] The team signed with Korean manager Choi Kang-hee, but had less-than-expected performance as the league went halfways. In July 2019, Dalian Pro ended contract with Choi, while Rafael Benítez was introduced to the team, that he "was impressed by chairman Wang's passion and future plan on football".[22][23] Salomon Rondon also joined from Newcastle United, as a response to Benítez's call.

Dalian Pro (2020–2024)

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On 21 January 2020, Dalian Yifang changed their name to Dalian Pro.[24] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Chinese Super League did not start until July, after which, Carrasco decided to leave the team. Dalian Pro and Benitez focused on aggressive promotion of young players, putting older players down to the reserves, as the 2020 league did not have much relegation pressure.

In January 2021, Benítez and Dalian Pro parted ways.[25] Hamsik and Rondon also decided to leave. As the CSL introduced further limits on salary cap and transfer fees, the team seemed to reach a post-marquee era by not introducing new foreign players and remained low-profile. The team appointed José González, but was relegated to China League One after the season.

On 12 March 2022, Dalian Pro announced major changes in its owners. Wanda Group decided to quit, and the team would be taken over temporarily by a government-led reforming work team. Past debts and operating costs of the first team, youth training facilities, and projects for the next three years would still be covered by Wanda Group. The Dalian Pro Academy Base was donated to DETA Holdings (德泰控股), a state-invested company in Dalian.[26]

On 27 May 2022, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced that Dalian Pro, which had been relegated from the top flight at the end of last season, would compete in the 18-team top flight, as a replacement for disbanded club Chongqing Liangjiang Athletic.[27]

Dalian Pro were relegated from the Chinese Super League once again in 2023, and failed to acquire the entry permission into the 2024 league due to historical debts. The team announced its cease of operations on 17 January 2024.[28]

Ownership and naming history

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Year Owner Club name
2009–15 Dalian Aerbin Group Dalian Aerbin Football Club
2015 Dalian Yifang Group
2016–2020 Dalian Yifang Football Club
2020–2021 Dalian Wanda Group Dalian Professional Football Club
2022–2024 Football Reform Workgroup of Dalian (Government-based) Dalian Professional Football Club

Crest history

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  • Dalian Aerbin logo used between 2009 and 2015
    Dalian Aerbin logo used between 2009 and 2015
  • Dalian Yifang logo used between 2016 and 2019
    Dalian Yifang logo used between 2016 and 2019
  • Dalian Pro logo used from 2020 to dissolution in 2024
    Dalian Pro logo used from 2020 to dissolution in 2024

Last coaching staff

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As of 16 May 2022
First team
Head coach China Xie Hui
Assistant coach Hong Kong Ng Wai Chiu
Assistant coach China Chang Lin
Goalkeeping coach Brazil Everton da Rocha Santos
Fitness coach Spain Alex Ros Cladella
Tactical Analyst Spain Aitor Calero Garcia
Reserve and youth teams
Reserve (U-23) coach Spain David Rivas Martínez
U-21 coach China Liu Yujian[29]
U-21 assistant coach China Zhou Ting
U-19 coach China Sun Wei
U-17 coach China Zhang Yaokun
U-17 assistant coach China Zou Peng
U-17 assistant coach China Li Wenbo
U-15 coach China Zhao Peng
U-15 assistant coach China Chi Yaojun
U-14 coach China Li Yang
U-15 assistant coach China Zou Jie
U-13 coach China Wang Zhaochen

Managerial history

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As of 16 April 2021[30][31]
Managers Period
China Chi Shangbin Jan 1, 2009 – Dec 31, 2010
China Sun Xianlu 2010
Bulgaria Aleksandar Stankov June 2010 – Dec 11, 2011
South Korea Chang Woe-ryong Jan 1, 2012 – Apr 3, 2012
Serbia Aleksandar Stanojević Apr 4, 2012 – Nov 9, 2012
China Xu Hong Dec 11, 2012 – Feb 18, 2013
China Li Ming (interim) Feb 18, 2013 – June 5, 2013
Bosnia and Herzegovina Simo Krunić June 3, 2013 – Dec 5, 2013
China Ma Lin Nov 5, 2013 – May 28, 2014
Japan Yasuharu Kurata May 30, 2014 – Dec 19, 2014
Sweden Mikael Stahre Jan 5, 2015 – July 5, 2016
Serbia Milinko Pantić July 5, 2016 – Aug 31, 2016
Spain Sergio Piernas Aug 31, 2016 – Nov 29, 2016
Spain Juan Ramón López Caro Nov 29, 2016 – Dec 26, 2017
China Ma Lin Dec 26, 2017 – Mar 20, 2018
Germany Bernd Schuster Mar 20, 2018 – Feb 11, 2019
South Korea Choi Kang-hee Feb 11, 2019 – July 1, 2019
Spain Rafael Benítez July 1, 2019 – Jan 23, 2021
Spain José González Apr 16, 2021 – Dec 31, 2021
China Xie Hui Mar 19, 2022 – Dec 31, 2023

Honours

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Results

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All-time League Rankings

As of the end of the 2023 season[33][34]
Year Div Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Pos. FA Cup Super Cup AFC Att./G Stadium
2010 3 21 14 3 4 37 14 23 34 1 W NH NH DNQ Dalian University Stadium
2011 2 26 16 6 4 45 20 25 54 W R2 NH DNQ
2012 1 30 11 11 8 51 46 5 44 5 QF DNQ DNQ 15,774 Jinzhou Stadium
2013 1 30 11 8 11 40 43 −3 41 5 SF DNQ DNQ 10,538
2014 1 30 6 11 13 32 45 −13 29 15 R3 DNQ DNQ 10,993 Dalian Sports Centre Stadium
2015 2 30 17 7 6 46 22 24 58 3 R3 DNQ DNQ 15,233
2016 2 30 14 3 13 43 44 −1 45 5 R3 DNQ DNQ 10,806
2017 2 30 19 7 4 48 23 25 64 W R3 DNQ DNQ 20,596
2018 1 30 10 5 15 37 57 −20 35 11 SF DNQ DNQ 33,145
2019 1 30 10 8 12 44 51 −7 38 9 SF DNQ DNQ 32,853
2020 1 14 2 5 7 18 21 −3 112 12 R1 DNQ DNQ −3 −3
2021 1 22 6 1 15 21 37 −16 19 15 QF DNQ DNQ −4 −4
2022 1 34 12 9 13 49 53 -4 45 11 R2 DNQ DNQ Puwan Stadium
Dalian Sports Centre Stadium
2023 1 30 3 11 16 25 47 -22 20 15 SF DNQ DNQ 18,031 Dalian Sports Centre Stadium
Dalian Barracuda Bay Football Stadium
  • ^1 in group stage
  • ^2 in group stage.
  • ^3 the 2020 Chinese Super League was held behind closed doors most of the time; attendance and stadium not applicable.
  • ^4 the 2021 Chinese Super League was held behind closed doors most of the time; attendance and stadium not applicable.
Key

Past and present internationals

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Had international caps for their respective countries.

References

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  1. ^ "CSL 2012". soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  2. ^ "大连阿尔滨俱乐部简介：成就梦想 造历史豪门". sports.qq.com. 2011-03-23. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  3. ^ "大连阿尔滨2010战绩：决赛不败 绝对优势冲甲". sports.qq.com. 2011-03-23. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  4. ^ "China League One 2011". soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  5. ^ "大连阿尔滨挖来张外龙 青岛中能接触图拔福拉多". ifeng.com. 8 Dec 2011. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  6. ^ "阿尔滨官方宣布新主帅 塞尔维亚欧冠名帅接手". sports.qq.com. 2012-04-04. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  7. ^ "Dalian Aerbin confirm Seydou Keita signing". goal.com. 2012-07-08. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  8. ^ "China's most successful club on the brink of death? An in-depth background". wildeastfootball.net. January 21, 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  9. ^ "徐弘独立离韩落寞离去 63天阿尔滨帅位生涯终结". sports.sohu.com. 20 Feb 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  10. ^ "津媒惊爆足协叫停内幕 有人不想阿尔滨做大做强". sohu.com. 2012-12-10. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  11. ^ "阿尔滨已欠薪11个月 赵明阳集团被欠债无钱可发". sina. 2014-05-28. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  12. ^ "三连败!阿尔滨再遇欠薪麻烦 斯塔勒下课倒计时？". sina. 2015-07-06. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  13. ^ 重磅!一方4000万入股阿尔滨 万达回归大连足球 at sina 2015-07-08 Retrieved 2015-12-23
  14. ^ 一方接盘大连足球，万达隐性回归 足球报 2015-07-09 Retrieved 2016-12-01
  15. ^ 大连阿尔滨主要股权转让并更名为大连一方的公示 Archived 2016-05-29 at the Wayback Machine at fa.org.cn 2015-12-14 Retrieved 2015-12-22
  16. ^ "一方接手解4大疑问 大连籍回归球衣不印8颗星". sports.qq.com. 2015-07-10. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  17. ^ "2017赛季中甲联赛最终积分榜（截止第30轮）". sports.sohu.com. 2016-12-30. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  18. ^ "冲超即"托管"，大连一方在和谁博弈？". sohu.com. 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  19. ^ 万达完成产业布局后接手一方 石雪清:等官方消息 at sina 2018-02-22 Retrieved 2018-03-19
  20. ^ 万达归来掀起冬窗最后疯狂 重树大连足球辉煌指日可待 at sina 2018-02-28 Retrieved 2018-03-19
  21. ^ "Chicago Fire set to sign Gaitan from Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang". 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
  22. ^ "Rafael Benítez: Ex-Newcastle boss appointed manager of Chinese side Dalian Yifang". BBC. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  23. ^ "Rafa Benítez: "Our goal is to create a legacy for Dalian"". rafabenitez.com. 2 July 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-07-05. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  24. ^ "中超大连一方俱乐部更名为大连人 启用新队徽标识". Sina Sports. 2020-01-21. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
  25. ^ "Thank you, Dalian". rafabenitez.com. Rafael Benitez. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  26. ^ "大连足改工作组接管大连人俱乐部 万达承担债务". sina.com.cn. 12 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  27. ^ "Dalian Pro earn CSL reprieve following Chongqing withdrawal". reuters.com. Reuters. 28 May 2022.
  28. ^ "官方：因历史债务无法化解 大连人俱乐部宣布解散". sina.com.cn. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  29. ^ "大连人员工队出战贺岁杯大名单确定！9位大连万达功勋成员+多名前中超球员在列". sohu.com. 29 December 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  30. ^ "Dalian Aerbin " Manager history". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 2015-01-09.
  31. ^ "Dalian Aerbin Football Club". footballzz.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-01-09.
  32. ^ "CHINA LEAGUE ONE – 2011". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  33. ^ "China – List of Champions". RSSSF. 10 Oct 2013. Archived from the original on July 4, 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  34. ^ "大连一方". sodasoccer.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
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