In the history of soccer, on that day ten years ago, Guangzhou Evergrande FC wrote a brilliant page, they not only became the first team to win the AFC Championship in the history of Chinese soccer, but also realized the glory that countless players had dreamed of.
That Guangzhou team, coached by world-class coach Lippi, was star-studded and brought together many soccer elites from home and abroad.
The team not only had many former and current international players, but also the top foreign aiders in Asian soccer at that time. They followed the example of the top clubs in Europe and the United States, adopting the lineup model of "local international players + strong foreign aid", and under strict management, the team quickly rose to the top of the Chinese Super League all the way to the AFC Champions League.
For the first time to step into the AFC Champions League stage, Guangzhou Evergrande swept away K-League giants Jeonbuk Hyundai 5-1 with the momentum of a newborn calf not afraid of tigers, awakening countless fans disappointed in Chinese soccer overnight.
When Guangzhou embarked on their AFC Champions League journey again with champion coach Lippi as their new manager, they were like a tiger with wings and survived the trials and tribulations to finally reach the top of Asia and lift the coveted AFC Champions League trophy.
Some people questioned the gold content of the championship, arguing that the "national team + super foreign aid" model could not be compared to the hard work of local players, after all, Japan and South Korea's top players have stayed in Europe.
However, compared to 2023, the Japanese and South Korean players in 2013 are more influential and at a higher level in the top five leagues, which means that the Chinese Super League teams have more chances in the competition.
But why did a strong team like Shanghai Port lose to Thai teams in a row, failing to even qualify for the AFC Champions League? Some teams spend huge sums of money, but even the threshold of the AFC Champions League final is difficult to reach, which makes people reflect: to win the AFC Champions League, is it really just a matter of having the money to do it?
Ten years later, Guangzhou Evergrande has long since changed its name to Guangzhou and has even been relegated to the Central League. However, this team has now become a true civilian division - the least invested team in the Chinese Super League and the Chinese League One.
So who is the shining star of this team? The players spoke in unison about Efirdin, the national Olympic striker who is worth just $300,000 dollars.
Tang Tang, the two-time AFC Champions League winner, still dominates the Central League, relying on a group of soccer academy students to prop up the team. With these young players averaging around 21 years old, will they be able to get a foothold in the Central League? Many believe Guangzhou will be relegated consecutively, dropping from the Chinese Super League to the Central League A, and possibly even to the Central B next year.
This concern is not without merit, as Cheng Yaodong played in the U22 National Youth League in the Chinese B League, but did not achieve significant results. In contrast, Guangzhou's players are much younger, with a single selection, all from the Evergrande Soccer School, so will they be able to hold their own in the face of a higher level of the Central League?
Surprisingly, however, these young players gained only three points in the first eight rounds of matches, and it looked like relegation was a foregone conclusion. However, in the next round of the Central League, Guangzhou was relegated four rounds ahead of schedule.
Relegation success means a lot to Guangzhou. It's not just success, it's the foundation for standing firm and laying the groundwork for a future rise.
At this crucial time, the club can free up its hands to do something big - celebrate the 10th anniversary of the team's first AFC Champions League title.
November 9, 2013 was a day to remember when Team Guangzhou announced their domination of Asia. The Guangzhou team proudly proclaimed, "We are the kings of Asia" (above).
