The Chinese Super League - A Sleeping Giant?

The Chinese Super League in the past three years has grown from strength to strength with the world's eyes solely focused on the next sensation to appear from China. Like the rulers of the People's republic of China, the Chinese F.A want to make the Chinese game the biggest, most powerful and mighty of leagues that exist throughout the world. Having nationally enjoyed success first in 2002 when China qualified for it's first FIFA World Cup, this truly was the first time Chinese football caught the attention of the world.

In the past twenty years some notorious names in English Premier League history have either played or managed in Asia . Arsene Wenger was signed from Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan when he became Arsenal manager in October 1996. Along with Wenger, England footballing legend Gary Lineker managed a two year spell in Japan with Nagoya Grampus Eight, two years before the arrival of Arsene Wenger to the J-League. Other players such as Ex-Aston Villa striker Dalian Atkinson managed a short spell in South Korea prior to the World Cup being held in the nation. These names helped the Asian League's continuous growth, however the Chinese F.A. never made the same attempts to make the league stand out like the J and K League's in Japan and Korea. When the World Cup in Korea and Japan was helped, the world's eyes began fascinated with events occurring in the Middle East. Players such as Zheng Zhi, Li Tie and Sun Jihai all made the transition from the Asian game to the English Premier League shortly after the World Cup, and unlike many of China's nearby neighbours geographically, the country is struggling to produce the same calibre of player that can now be found in the Premier League today.

The Chinese development in youth is increasing with the number of players under the age of twenty-one rising by 17% in the past four years. Unlike China, Japan invested heavily in youth after their failures in the 2002 World Cup in their home country. Now players like Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda who are now major stars in the European game, are also promoting their national League to major football followers. Yu Hanchao, who plays China's most successful club Dalian Aerbin, is arguably the biggest star of the new Chinese generation. Whilst the youth development continues to grow, the infrastructure in the Chinese game could be regarded as the best that could be found, anywhere in the world. Fresh from hosting the Olympics in 2008, the construction created for the games has received world wide acclaim.

Chinese captain Sun Jihai

Since the Olympic games, Chinese sport and culture has captured the world's imagination and attention. Funding into the Chinese Super League has increased the wealth of clubs, and has increased their ability to become more competitive in the world's transfer market. In recent times superstars such as ex-Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka and Chelsea's winning penalty kick taker in the 2012 Champions League final, Didier Drogba have played for Shanghai Shenhua, Ex-Seville goal machine Frederic Kanoute has turned out for Beijing Guoan before his move to Dubai in the past few weeks occurred, whilst former UEFA Champions League winner with Barcelona, Seydou Keita who currently lines out for Dalian rejected lucrative offers from England to play in China. Recently Yakubu has been playing for Sven Goran Eriksson's Guangzhou R&F side and are no doubt are under achieving under the guidance of the Swede. Chris Killen, Derek Riordan and Akpo Sodje have all been attracted to the prospect of the big money in China. Also along with the players, some of the world's top coaches are also being attracted to China, with 2006 World Cup winning manager, Marcelo Lippi on the verge leading his side Guangzhou Evergrande to the first ever Chinese triple.

There is no doubt that the Chinese league is waiting to explode with excitement. Attendances are up. The wealth is increasing and the viewership from the west is also on the increase. Like the nation of China itself it's filled with corruption. If this can be prevented could we see the Super League really becoming the most super league's of them all?