Wuhan Yangtze River F.C.

{{Infobox football club

| clubname = Wuhan Yangtze River
Wǔhàn Chángjiāng
武汉长江

| image = Wuhan Yangtze River F.C.svg

| fullname = Wuhan Yangtze River Football Club
武汉长江足球俱乐部

| nickname = Han Army

| founded = {{Start date and age|2009|2|17|df=y}}

| dissolved = {{Start date and age|2023|1|25|df=y}}

}}

Wuhan Yangtze River Football Club, formerly Wuhan Zall Football Club[http://www.fa.org.cn/bulletin/media/2015-04-16/468621.html 关于中甲联赛版权声明及正确使用中甲联赛名称的函] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924005412/http://www.fa.org.cn/bulletin/media/2015-04-16/468621.html |date=2015-09-24 }} fa.org.cn 2015-04-16 Retrieved 2016-03-04{{cite web|url=https://m.dongqiudi.net/article/1839510.html|title=官方：武汉卓尔正式更名为武汉队|publisher=Dongqiudi|date=15 February 2021|access-date=15 February 2021|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501172908/https://m.dongqiudi.net/article/1839510.html|url-status=live}} ({{zh|s=武汉长江|t=武漢長江|p=Wǔhàn Chángjiāng}}), was a Chinese professional football club that participated in the Chinese Super League under licence from the Chinese Football Association (CFA). The team was based in Wuhan, Hubei and their home stadium was the Dongxihu Sports Centre that has a seating capacity of 30,000.{{cite web|url=http://www.changjiangtimes.com/2017/02/558861.html|script-title=zh:卓尔新赛季主场场地将迁至武汉体育中心|publisher=Changjiang Times|date=February 9, 2017|access-date=February 19, 2017|language=zh|archive-date=February 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220012245/http://www.changjiangtimes.com/2017/02/558861.html|url-status=live}} Their current majority shareholder is the investment company Wuhan Zall Development Holding Co. Ltd.

The club was founded in 2009 after the withdrawal and then dissolution of its predecessor Wuhan Optics Valley. They entered at the start of the 2009 league campaign at the bottom of the professional Chinese football league pyramid. The team won promotion to the 2013 Chinese Super League after coming runners-up in the 2012 China League One, and spent only one season in the top flight before being relegated back down. In 2018, the team won the League One again and earned their second season in the top flight. They stayed there until the 2022 Super League, where they were once again relegated to League One after finishing 16th.

On 25 January 2023, the club announced that it decided to withdraw its participation in any competition managed by the Chinese Football Association, which means that the club has dissolved.{{cite web|url=https://m.dongqiudi.com/article/3239462.html|title=官方：武汉长江俱乐部宣布解散|work=Dongqiudi|date=25 January 2023|access-date=25 January 2023|language=zh|archive-date=25 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125105131/https://m.dongqiudi.com/article/3239462.html|url-status=live}}

History

= 2009–2011: Hubei Luyin =

Hubei Luyin was founded in February, 2009 after its predecessor Wuhan Optics Valley withdrew from the top tier because of its controversial punishment in October 2008 after the club had a dispute with the Chinese Football Association over the club's on-field behaviour against Beijing Guoan in a 27 September 2008 league game.{{cite web|url=http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90779/90871/6530650.html|title=Wuhan ejected from football league|publisher=english.people.com.cn|date=10 November 2008|access-date=2013-02-01|archive-date=2013-11-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103210542/http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90779/90871/6530650.html|url-status=live}} Due to their withdrawal they were unable to register and participate in any professional Chinese tournaments, however the Hubei Province football association decided that due to the lack of representation of any Hubei teams within the Chinese football league system they would help create a new team to represent Hubei and use the Wuhan U-19 team as well as the Hubei youth team as the foundation for the squad. This saw the establishment of a new football club on the 26 February 2009 when the Hubei Luyin officially registered itself within the Chinese Football Association and start at the bottom of the professional football system in the third tier.{{cite web|url=http://sports.sohu.com/20090228/n262522116.shtml|script-title=zh:"湖北绿茵足球俱乐部"注册成功参加中乙成定局|publisher=sports.sohu.com|date=2009-02-28|access-date=2013-02-01|language=zh|archive-date=2016-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820184641/http://sports.sohu.com/20090228/n262522116.shtml|url-status=live}} The club would show their unusual strength in depth when they would breeze through the regional section of the league campaign and enter into the play-off finals where they lost their only game of the season Hunan Billows F.C. in a penalty shoot out. Despite the defeat the club would win promotion to the second tier and to strengthen their team they bought back the contracts of several Wuhan Optics Valley players who were not permanently sold off.

= 2011–2018: Wuhan Zall =

With the club in the second tier they would go through a period of joint investment from several parties until 14 December 2011 saw the Zall Group take ownership of the club and rename them Wuhan Zall Football Club as well as changing the team's colours back to orange, which was the club's predecessor's main colours.{{cite web|url=http://sports.enorth.com.cn/system/2011/12/14/008313876.shtml|script-title=zh:武汉中博易主卓尔集团接手湖北首富入主成老板|publisher=sports.enorth.com.cn|date=2011-12-14|access-date=2013-02-01|language=zh|archive-date=2012-05-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501122729/http://sports.enorth.com.cn/system/2011/12/14/008313876.shtml|url-status=live}} Initially the new owners saw the team struggle throughout the 2012 league season and decided to sack the existing manager Jose Carlos de Oliveira and replace him with Zheng Xiong on a caretaker basis.{{cite web|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/b/2012-04-24/12486036223.shtml|script-title=zh:卓尔宣布卡洛斯正式下课！高层称赞敬业精神可嘉|publisher=sports.sina.com.cn|date=2012-04-24|access-date=2013-02-01|language=zh|archive-date=2012-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624123458/http://sports.sina.com.cn/b/2012-04-24/12486036223.shtml|url-status=live}} As the season went on the results considerably improved under Zheng Xiong who was given a full-time contract before guiding Wuhan Zall to second within the league and promotion to the Chinese Super League. The club's start in the 2013 league season was not a success and when the team went six games without a win, Zheng resigned.{{cite web|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2013-04-22/14466532620.shtml|script-title=zh:武汉卓尔董事长宣布图拔任主帅曾执教鲁能夺五冠|publisher=sports.sina.com.cn|date=2013-04-22|access-date=2019-02-26|language=zh|archive-date=2020-11-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128173134/http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2013-04-22/14466532620.shtml|url-status=live}} The former Shandong Luneng Head coach who had won the Chinese Super League, Ljubiša Tumbaković was brought in to manage the team, however despite his experience in the league he was unable to help the club avoid relegation and he was sacked before the season was finished.{{cite web|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2013-08-18/23196730876.shtml|script-title=zh:武汉卓尔宣布与主帅图拔科维奇解约同时撤换队长|publisher=sports.sina.com.cn|date=2013-08-18|access-date=2019-02-26|language=zh|archive-date=2013-10-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030205609/http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2013-08-18/23196730876.shtml|url-status=live}}

In 2015 the football club was sold to a private company Wuhan Zall Development Holding Co. Ltd. under the ownership of their chairman Yan Zhi and his relatives, for RMB 20,630,000.{{cite web|url=http://www.zallcn.com/upload/20160420123653.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919043700/http://www.zallcn.com/upload/20160420123653.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-09-19|script-title= zh:2015 Annual Report|publisher=Zall Group|date=2015|access-date=2019-02-26|language=zh}}

= 2019–2022: Super League =

After several seasons within the second tier, the club brought in Li Tie as the Head Coach, a manager who had previously guided Hebei China Fortune F.C. to the top tier.{{cite web|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/china/b/2017-11-16/doc-ifynvxeh5252523.shtml|script-title=zh:武汉卓尔官宣李铁成为新帅新赛季全力冲击中超|publisher=sports.sina.com.cn|date=2017-11-16|access-date=2019-02-26|language=zh|archive-date=2021-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106043734/http://sports.sina.com.cn/china/b/2017-11-16/doc-ifynvxeh5252523.shtml|url-status=live}} In his debut season Li Tie was able to guide Wuhan to the victory of the division championship and promotion back into the Chinese Super League at the end of the 2018 league season.{{cite web|url=https://sports.sina.cn/china/2018-03-10/detail-ifxpwyhw7624379.d.html?&cid=69436|script-title=zh:2018中甲联赛积分榜|publisher=sports.sina.com.cn|date=2018-03-10|access-date=2019-02-26|language=zh|archive-date=2019-03-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301074504/https://sports.sina.cn/china/2018-03-10/detail-ifxpwyhw7624379.d.html?&cid=69436|url-status=live}}

During the 2022 season Wuhan Yangtze River F.C. lost 3–1 to Chengdu Rongcheng, which resulted in Wuhan being relegated to China League One for the 2023 season. However, their participation did not happen as the club got dissolved at the start of 2023.

Name history

2009–2010: Hubei Luyin F.C. ({{lang|zh|湖北绿茵}})
2011: Hubei Wuhan Zhongbo F.C. ({{lang|zh|湖北武汉中博}})
2012–2020: Wuhan Zall F.C. ({{lang|zh|武汉卓尔}})
2021: Wuhan F.C. ({{lang|zh|武汉}})
2022: Wuhan Yangtze River F.C. ({{lang|zh|武汉长江}})

Retired numbers

{{main|Retired numbers in football (soccer)|l1=Retired numbers in football}}

8 Yao Hanlin{{cite web|url=https://m.dongqiudi.com/article/2509946.html|title=最高敬意！武汉队将永久封存8号球衣，以此向姚翰林致敬|publisher=Dongqiudi|date=3 January 2022|access-date=3 January 2022|archive-date=3 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103080750/https://m.dongqiudi.com/article/2509946.html|url-status=live}}

Managerial history

{{flagicon|China}} Li Jun (2009–10)
{{flagicon|China}} Li Xiao (2011)
{{flagicon|Brazil}} Jose Carlos de Oliveira (2011–12)
{{flagicon|China}} Zheng Xiong (24 April 2012 – 21 April 2013)
{{flagicon|Serbia}} Ljubiša Tumbaković (22 April 2013 – 18 August 2013)
{{flagicon|China}} Wang Jun (19 August 2013 – 10 December 2013)
{{flagicon|Croatia}} Dražen Besek (11 December 2013 – September 2014)
{{flagicon|China}} Zheng Bin (September 2014 – 17 July 2015)
{{flagicon|China}} Zheng Xiong (17 July 2015 – 26 June 2016)
{{flagicon|Italy}} Ciro Ferrara (July 2016 – 20 March 2017)
{{flagicon|China}} Tang Yaodong (30 March 2017 – 9 July 2017)
{{flagicon|China}} Chen Yang (9 July 2017 – 10 November 2017)
{{flagicon|China}} Li Tie (16 November 2017 – 2 January 2020)
{{flagicon|Spain}} José Manuel González López (4 January 2020 – 24 September 2020)
{{flagicon|China}} Pang Li (24 September 2020 – 27 December 2020)
{{flagicon|China}} Li Xiaopeng (27 December 2020 – 3 December 2021)
{{flagicon|China}} Li Jinyu (4 December 2021 – 25 January 2023)

Results

As of the end of 2022 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/chinachamp.html|title=China – List of Champions|date=10 Oct 2013|website=RSSSF|access-date=29 January 2014|archive-date=4 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704080845/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesc/chinachamp.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sodasoccer.com/search/club/5/9629/119CFCDB4D81A885.shtml|title=武汉卓尔|publisher=sodasoccer.com|access-date=29 January 2014|archive-date=24 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524022426/http://www.sodasoccer.com/search/club/5/9629/119CFCDB4D81A885.shtml|url-status=dead}}

All-time league rankings

class="wikitable sortable" width=100% style=text-align:Center !width=5%\|Year !width=5%\|Tier !width=5%\|{{Tooltip\|Pld\|Matches played}} !width=5%\|{{Tooltip\|W\|Matches won}} !width=5%\|{{Tooltip\|D\|Matches drawn}} !width=5%\|{{Tooltip\|L\|Match(es) lost}} !width=5%\|{{Tooltip\|GF\|Goals for}} !width=5%\|{{Tooltip\|GA\|Goals against}} !width=5%\|{{Tooltip\|GD\|Goal difference}} !width=5%\|{{Tooltip\|Pts\|Points}} !width=5%\|{{Tooltip\|Pos\|Position}} !width=8%\|Cup !width=8%\|AFC !width=7%\|Att./G !width=25%\|Stadium
2009	3	13	8	5	0	16	2	+14	24{{ref\| 1\| 1}}	bgcolor=silver\|2	NH	DNQ		align=center rowspan=4 \|Xinhua Road Sports Center
2010	bgcolor="#ffffe0" \|2	24	10	7	7	30	24	+6	37	5	NH	DNQ
2011	bgcolor="#ffffe0" \|2	26	8	9	9	26	28	−2	33	7	R1	DNQ
2012	bgcolor="#ffffe0" \|2	30	16	6	8	40	29	+11	54	bgcolor=silver\|2	R2	DNQ	6,701
2013	bgcolor="#d0f0c0" \|1	30	3	7	20	24	58	−36	16	bgcolor=#ffcccc\|16	R3	DNQ	14,403	Wuhan Sports Center Stadium
2014	bgcolor="#ffffe0" \|2	30	18	3	9	46	31	+15	57	bgcolor="#ffa500" \|3	R2	DNQ	8,457	align=center rowspan=3 \|Xinhua Road Sports Center
2015	bgcolor="#ffffe0" \|2	30	8	12	10	31	30	+1	36	10	R2	DNQ	5,300
2016	bgcolor="#ffffe0" \|2	30	12	7	11	31	33	−2	43	6	R2	DNQ	4,853
2017	bgcolor="#ffffe0" \|2	30	13	8	9	47	40	+7	47	5	R2	DNQ	13,525	Wuhan Sports Center Stadium
2018	bgcolor="#ffffe0" \|2	30	18	9	3	60	25	+35	63	bgcolor="#ffd700" \|1	R4	DNQ	6,884	Zhongnan University of Economics and Law Stadium
2019	bgcolor="#d0f0c0" \|1	30	12	8	10	41	41	0	44	6	R4	DNQ	20,484	align=center rowspan=4 \|Wuhan Five Rings Sports Center
2020	bgcolor="#d0f0c0" \|1	20	7	4	9	22	22	0	25	15	-	DNQ	N/A
2021	bgcolor="#d0f0c0" \|1	22	3	11	8	23	30	-7	20	14	QF	DNQ
2022	bgcolor="#d0f0c0" \|1	34	8	4	22	34	71	-37	19{{ref\| 2\| 2}}	bgcolor="#ffcccc"\|16	R2	DNQ

{{note|1|1}} in group stage
{{note|2|2}} Wuhan Yangtze River had 3 points deducted due to unpaid salaries on 5 November 2022 and had 6 points deducted due to unpaid salaries on 23 November 2022.

Key

style="border: 1px solid #ffffff; background-color: #ffffff" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1"
bgcolor="#D0F0C0" width="20" \| \| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" \| China top division
bgcolor="#FFFFE0" width="20" \| \| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" \| China second division
bgcolor="#ffffff" width="20" \| \| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" \| China third division
bgcolor="#FFD700" width="20" \| W \| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" \| Winners
bgcolor="#C0C0C0" width="20" \| RU \| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" \| Runners-up
bgcolor="#FFA500" width="20" \| 3 \| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" \| Third place
bgcolor="#ffcccc" width="20" \| \| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" \| Relegated

style="border: 1px solid #ffffff; background-color: #ffffff" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1"

bgcolor="#D0F0C0" width="20" |

| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" | China top division

bgcolor="#FFFFE0" width="20" |

| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" | China second division

bgcolor="#ffffff" width="20" |

| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" | China third division

bgcolor="#FFD700" width="20" | W

| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" | Winners

bgcolor="#C0C0C0" width="20" | RU

| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" | Runners-up

bgcolor="#FFA500" width="20" | 3