Know your teams

China Daily is providing all-round coverage of the Chinese Super League this week. Today, we look at the league as a whole. Ups and downs in CSL

Guangzhou Evergrande

Head coach: Lee Jang-soo (South Korea)

Last season: Champion

Players to watch: Dario Conca (former Brazilian league MVP), Gao Lin (national striker), Cleo (Brazilian striker)

Prediction: Regarded as China's Chelsea, the big-spending team imported elite foreign and domestic players and claimed the CSL title in its first season after promotion last year. The Conca-Cleo duo and about half of the national roster have made it the strongest squad among the contenders. Supported by real-estate tycoon Xu Jiayin, Evergrande is expected to defend its championship.

Beijing Guo'an

Head coach: Jaime Pacheco (Portugal)

Last season: Second

Players to watch: Andrija Kaluderovic (formerly of Red Star Belgrade), Shao Jiayi (formerly of Munich 1860 and MSV Duisburg)

Prediction: With the help of the Serbian league's top scorer, Kaluderovic, and veteran playmaker Shao, Guo'an's prospects seem promising. Still, the club faces a tough challenge as its limited talent pool will compete in both the domestic league and the Asian Champions League. Based in the renowned Workers Stadium in Beijing, the club enjoys solid support from its loyal fans, the "Imperial Troop", and will again count on them for inspiration.

Liaoning Whowin

Head coach: Ma Lin (China)

Last season: Third

Players to watch: Yu Hanchao (current national team player), Zhao Junzhe (former national midfielder)

Prediction: After an 80-day winter training camp, the club expects to maintain last year's momentum with a relatively young roster and no big-name imports. Veterans Li Tie and Zhao and current national players Yu and Yang Xu will be at the core of its bid to maintain last year's high ranking while Argentine leftback Pablo Brandan will provide some offense.

Jiangsu Sainty

Head coach: Dragan Okuka (Serbia)

Last season: Fourth

Players to watch: Cristian Danalache (last season's No 3 scorer from Romania), Deng Zhuoxiang (former national playmaker)

Prediction: After being promoted to the CSL in 2008, the Sainty struggled around the bottom of the league until they finished an impressive fourth last season under the guidance of Serb manager Okuka. Signing compatriot center Miljan Mrdakovic and welcoming former star Deng from Shandong, coach Okuka is confident his team can improve even more. Deng's old injury could be an X-factor.

Shandong Luneng

Head coach: Henk ten Cate (The Netherlands)

Last season: Fifth

Players to watch: Hao Junmin (former Schalke 04 wingman), Gilberto Macena (former Danish league top scorer from Brazil)

Prediction: A three-time CSL champion and two-time FA Cup winner, the club is perennially in the hunt for titles, although it endured a slump last year. Hiring Dutchman Ten Cate, who served at Barcelona and Chelsea as an assistant manager, the traditional powerhouse is keen for an improved performance this season. Its deep local roster, with Hao, former national player Zhou Haibin and power center Han Peng, will drive its hopes.

Qingdao Jonoon

Head coach: Blaz Sliskovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Last season: Sixth

Players to watch: Liu Jian (national defender), Zheng Long (last season's top assist maker)

Prediction: After attaining its best CSL result last year, the low-profile squad has recruited Sliskovic, the former manager of Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, to fight for a higher finish this season. Current international defender Liu, spark plug Zheng and former Korean league striker Krunoslav Lovrek will lead the roster.

Changchun Yatai

Head coach: Svetozar Sapuric (Serbia)

Last season: Seventh

Player to watch: Du Zhenyu (former national wingman)

Prediction: Trying to repeat its league-title feat of 2007, Changchun has brought in Serbian coach Sapuric to steer the squad. With five solid imports, including former Bundesliga forward John Mosquera and former Benfica striker Weldon Santos, plus local star Du, Changchun could expect a better finish than last year.

Hangzhou Greentown

Head coach: Takeshi Okada (Japan)

Last season: Eighth

Player to watch: Du Wei (national centerback and 2002 World Cup participant)

Prediction: Hiring former Japanese national coach Okada, who led his country to a ninth-place finish at the 2010 World Cup, Greentown expects to learn the skills and systems of Japanese soccer. The ambitious Okada has set the league title as the team's goal. He has no individual stars on the roster, but he believes teamwork will make up for that.

Guizhou Renhe

Head coach: Gao Hongbo (China)

Last season: Ninth

Players to watch: Sun Jihai (former national and Manchester City midfielder), Rafa Jorda (former Levante striker)

Prediction: Moving its home from Shaanxi to southwest Guizhou province, the team will be seeking a breakthrough season with a decent lineup that includes veteran Sun, 2002 World Cup participant Qu Bo and national midfielder Zhao Xuri. A top-four finish or an Asian Champions League berth could be a realistic goal for the side, which added prolific scorer Jorda.

Tianjin Teda

Head coach: Josip Kuze (Croatia)

Last season: 10th

Player to watch: Li Weifeng (former national and Everton centerback), Chen Tao (national midfielder)

Prediction: After losing its main scorer, Yu Dabao, to league newcomer Dalian Aerbin, Taida has imported Dutch striker Sjoerd Ars and Scottish Premier League wingman Akpo Sodje to fill the void. With Li's experience and Chen's creativity, the team could claim more glory after winning last season's FA Cup.

Shanghai Shenhua

Head coach: Jean Tigana (France)

Last season: 11th

Players to watch: Nicolas Anelka (former Chelsea and French national striker), Feng Renliang (promising wingman)

Prediction: By signing Anelka, the biggest star in league history, Shenhua made headlines everywhere, but it still needs solid performances to validate the $14 million investment. To help its new star, the club also hired Frenchman Tigana, a legendary midfielder, to guide the team. The traditional force, which ended with its worst league result since 2003 last year, is revitalized and can't wait to test its caliber.

Dalian Shide

Head coach: Nelo Vingada (Portugal)

Last season: 12th

Players to watch: Carlos Adriano (former Brazilian club Fluminense striker), Zhu Ting (national striker)

Prediction: Boasting a record eight top-league titles, Dalian is the most successful club in China, but is now heading downhill due to an unseasoned roster after a group of veterans retired. Led by experienced Portuguese manager Vingada, the team will aim to nurture its young guns while also improving its ranking this season.

Henan Jianye

Head coach: Jan Versleijen (The Netherlands)

Last season: 13th

Players to watch: Christopher Katongo (MVP of 2012 African Cup from Zambia), Zhao Peng (national centerback)

Prediction: After gaining promotion to the CSL in 2007, Henan stunned the nation by finishing third in 2009, but soon the top league proved too tough for the low-profile team. It finished just above the drop zone last year and will still see survival as its main goal. With the help of Katongo, its once-lackluster offense will likely be more aggressive.

Shanghai Shenxin

Head coach: Zhu Jiong (China)

Last season: 14th

Player to watch: Antonio Flavio (former Swedish league striker from Brazil)

Prediction: Plagued by a financial shortfall, the club (formerly Nanchang Hengyuan) changed its sponsor, moved to Shanghai and adopted its new name before the season. With no big signings and the transfer of promising youngster Chen Zhizhao to Brazilian club Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, the team will face a tough challenge to secure its top-league spot this year.

Dalian Aerbin

Head coach: Chang Woe-ryong (South Korea)

Last season: Second-division champion

Players to watch: Yu Dabao (national and former Benfica striker), Fabio Rochemback (former Barcelona midfielder from Brazil)

Prediction: The youngest club in Chinese soccer, Aerbin advanced from the third division to the top league in three years with significant financial support from its real-estate tycoon owner Zhao Mingyang. Signing domestic star Yu and renowned international players like Rochemback and defender Gustavo Canales from Chile, the ambitious club has set its sights on emulating Evergrande's success.

Guangzhou R&F

Head coach: Sergio Farias (Brazil)

Last season: Runner-up in second division

Player to watch: Leonardo Silva (former Brazilian club Flamengo striker)

Prediction: The club (formerly Shenzhen Phoenix) was relegated to the lower division in 2010 and the club fought its way back to the CSL after being bought by R&F. It has set the target of a top-eight finish this season. Bringing in Farias, a former Brazilian Under-20 coach, and skillful scorer Silva, the club will aim for some Brazilian flair.

China Daily