Genbao Football Base (

Simplified Chinese Simplification, Simplify, or Simplified may refer to: Mathematics Simplification is the process of replacing a mathematical expression by an equivalent one, that is simpler (usually shorter), for example * Simplification of algebraic expressions, ...

: 上海根宝足球基地) is the

training ground A training ground is an area where professional association football teams prepare for matches, with activities primarily concentrating on skills and fitness. They also sometimes form part of a club's youth system, as clubs consider it important t ...

Shanghai Port F.C. Shanghai Port FC (), previously named Shanghai SIPG, is a professional Association football, football club that participates in the Chinese Super League under licence from the Chinese Football Association (CFA). The team is based in Pudong, Shangh ...

and home to its youth academy. Located in

Chongming County Chongming District () is northernmost district of the provincial-level municipality of Shanghai. Chongming consists of three low-lying inhabited alluvial islands at the mouth of the Yangtze north of the Shanghai peninsula: Chongming, Changxing ...

Shanghai Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flow ...

, China, the base is named after its founder and owner,

Xu Genbao Xu Genbao (; born January 16, 1944 in Shanghai) is a Chinese football manager and a former international football player. He is the current founder, chairman and general coach of Shanghai East Asia football club as well as also being the owner o ...

, a prominent Chinese football manager and a former international footballer. The construction of the base started in 2000, after

quit his managerial position at

Dalian Shide Dalian Shide was a professional Chinese football club based in Dalian, Liaoning province, China who played in China's football league system between 1955 and 2012. Their home stadiums were the 55,843 capacity Dalian People's Stadium and then lat ...

in 1999 and determined to devote himself to youth football. In 2000, the base, while still under construction, saw the first batch of young players aged between 11–12 enrolled into the academy. Some of them formed

Shanghai East Asia F.C. Shanghai Port FC (), previously named Shanghai SIPG, is a professional Association football, football club that participates in the Chinese Super League under licence from the Chinese Football Association (CFA). The team is based in Pudong, Shangh ...

(now Shanghai Port), which was founded by Xu Genbao in 2005, and went on to win the 2007

China League Two The Chinese Football Association Division Two League (Simplified Chinese: 中国足球协会乙级联赛), or China League Two, is the third tier league of the People's Republic of China. The league is under the auspices of the Chinese Football As ...

and the 2012

China League One The Chinese Football Association China League (), also known as China League One or Chinese Jia League (中甲联赛), is the second level of professional football in China. Above League One is the Chinese Super League. Prior to the formation of ...

. The club is currently playing in the

Chinese Super League The Chinese Football Association Super League, commonly known as Chinese Super League or CSL, currently known as the China Ping An Chinese Football Association Super League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest tier of professional football in ...

, the top division in China. The base has produced several Chinese international football players including

Jiang Zhipeng Jiang Zhipeng (; born 6 March 1989) is a Chinese footballer who currently plays for Shenzhen in the Chinese Super League. Club career Jiang Zhipeng started his football career when he joined the Genbao Football Academy in 2000 and was promoted ...

Zhang Linpeng Zhang Linpeng (; born 9 May 1989) is a Chinese professional footballer who currently plays for Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port. Zhang is known by the nickname Zhangmos for his similarity in looks and playing style as Sergio Ramos. An ...

Yan Junling Yan Junling (; born 28 January 1991) is a Chinese professional footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port and the China national team. Club career Yan Junling started his football career when ...

Cai Huikang Cai Huikang (; born 10 October 1989) is a Chinese footballer who currently plays for Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League. Club career Cai Huikang started his football career when he joined the Genbao Football Academy in 2000 and was prom ...

and

Wu Lei Wu Lei (; born 19 November 1991) is a Chinese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port and the China national team. Wu is the all-time top goalscorer for Shanghai SIPG with 169 goals. He is ...

. Inside the base, there are three and a half standard sized football pitches, as well as an indoor football arena covered with

artificial turf Artificial turf is a surface of synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commer ...

. It also includes a dining, banquet and dancing hall, numerous activity rooms, and sixty-four guest rooms and two luxury suites at a three-star standard. The facilities can be rented out for conventions and functions. The site covers a total area of 4.7 hectares and is adjacent to Dongping National Forest Park.

References

External links

(Chinese)根宝足球基地
Football venues in China Sports venues in Shanghai {{PRChina-sports-venue-stub