Wuhan Optics Valley Football Club () is a defunct
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
club that was located in the city of
Wuhan
Wuhan (, ; ; ) is the capital of Hubei, Hubei Province in the China, People's Republic of China. It is the largest city in Hubei and the most populous city in Central China, with a population of over eleven million, the List of cities in China ...
,
Hubei
Hubei (; ; alternately Hupeh) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, and is part of the Central China region. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Dongting Lake. The prov ...
province, China. The club's home stadium was
Xinhua Road Sports Center Xinhua Road Sports Centre Stadium () is a multi-purpose stadium in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium has a capacity for 22,140 people. It opened in 1954.
Competitions
*AFC U-19 Women's Cha ...
, while the important matches were played at the more modern stadium
Wuhan Sports Center
The Wuhan Sports Centre Stadium ( or Zhuankou Stadium () is sports complex with a multi-use stadium in Wuhan, China. Completed in 2002, it has an all-seated capacity of 54,000.
Local football team Wuhan Guanggu played some high attendance matches ...
in China. Their fans were mainly from Hubei province and the club had supporters from the city of Wuhan, and the surrounding cities of
Ezhou
Ezhou () is a prefecture-level city in eastern Hubei Province, China. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 1,079,353, of which 695,697 lived in the core Echeng District. The Ezhou - Huanggang built-up (''or metro'') area was home t ...
,
Huangshi
Huangshi (), alternatively romanized as Hwangshih, is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Hubei province, People's Republic of China.
Its population was 2,469,079 inhabitants at the 2020 census; 1,567,108 of whom lived in the built-up (''or ...
, and
Xiaogan
Xiaogan () is a prefecture-level city in east-central Hubei province, People's Republic of China, some northwest of the provincial capital of Wuhan. According to the 2020 census, its population totaled 4,270,371, of whom 988,479 lived in the built ...
. It was founded in 1954 as the Hubei Football Team, while the professional football team was founded in February 1994. In 2008, the club quit 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 ...
because of what it believed to be unfair punishment after the club had a dispute with the
Chinese Football Association
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) is the governing body for association football, beach soccer and futsal in People's Republic of China (Mainland China). The CFA organizes the men's and women's national teams and administers the country's ...
over the club's on-field behaviour against
Beijing Guoan
Beijing Guoan Football Club () is a professional football club that currently participates in the Chinese Super League under licence from the Chinese Football Association (CFA). The team is based in the Chaoyang District in Beijing and their ho ...
in a league game. Some of its players formed a new team called
Hubei Luyin
Wuhan Yangtze River Football Club, formerly Wuhan Zall Football Club (), is a professional Chinese football club that currently participates in the Chinese Super League under licence from the Chinese Football Association (CFA). The team is based i ...
and made a return to
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 ...
in 2013.
History
Hubei Football Team
The club was formed in 1954 by the local Hubei province sports body to take part in China's national football league tournament. They entered the league in the 1955 season and finished 10th. After several years struggling within the division, the club found themselves in the second tier by the 1958 season. After achieving a fourth-place finish they were promoted to the top division. By 1960 the club had renamed themselves the Hubei Football Team and for a short period they adapted better within the league. By the end of the 1963 season the club were relegated to the second division until the Chinese
Cultural Revolution
The Cultural Revolution, formally known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a sociopolitical movement in the People's Republic of China (PRC) launched by Mao Zedong in 1966, and lasting until his death in 1976. Its stated goal ...
saw football in China halted. When football returned in 1973 the club were allowed to enter straight back into the top tier. From then on the club predominantly remained a top division team. They narrowly missed out on winning their first league title to
Bayi Football Team
The Bayi or August First Football Team () or its full name the People's Liberation Army Bayi Football Club () was a football team under the sport branch of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) that played in China's football league system between 1 ...
on goal difference in the 1986 league season. They could not improve upon that result and were relegated at the end of the 1988 league season. In response to this failure the local Hubei government pushed for better representation within the league pyramid, and several new teams were formed in the Hubei region.
Professionalism
While the club was in the second tier, the
Chinese Football Association
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) is the governing body for association football, beach soccer and futsal in People's Republic of China (Mainland China). The CFA organizes the men's and women's national teams and administers the country's ...
were starting to demand full professionalism throughout the league. Hubei football team decide to merge with the Wuhan Football Team to form a fully professional unit in February 1994 and be the sole representative of the Hubei region in the Chinese league pyramid. With former player
Yin Lihua
Yin may refer to:
*the dark force in the yin and yang from traditional Chinese philosophy and medicine
*Yīn (surname) (), a Chinese surname
*Yǐn (surname) (), a Chinese surname
*Shang dynasty, also known as the Yin dynasty
**Yinxu or Yin, the S ...
as their manager the club gradually improved their league standings and won the second tier title at the end of the 1997 league season.
The club's time in the top tier did not last very long and they were soon relegated back into the second tier. They brought in
Pei Encai
Pei Encai (; born 1 December 1953) is a Chinese football manager and a former player.
Playing career
Pei Encai would spend his youth within the Chinese military where he rose to be a Colonel. While in the army he would show to be promising mid ...
as their new manager in 2004. He won the division title and promotion in his debut season. Back within the top tier of the rebranded
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 team were led-out by local players such as
Li Hao Li Hao may refer to:
* Li Hao (murderer), murderer and rapist sentenced to death in 2014
* Li Gao or Li Hao (351–417), Northern Liang official who founded the Western Liang
* Li Hao (Later Shu) (died 965), official of the Former Shu, Later Tang, ...
,
Zheng Bin
Zheng Bin (; born July 4, 1977) is a Chinese football coach and a former international who played as a left midfielder or striker.
As a player he represented Shenzhen Jianlibao, Wuhan Huanghelou and Wuhan Zall while internationally he played ...
and
Zhang Xinxin. Their foreign contingent of Brazilians such as Emerson Roberto Conceicao Aleixo,
Gílson Domingos Rezende Agostinho
Gílson Domingos Rezende Agostinho (born September 18, 1977 in Taubaté) more commonly known simply as Gilsinho, is a former Brazilian footballer who played as a striker. In his career, he was predominantly remembered for his association with h ...
, and
Vicente de Paula Neto
Vicente de Paula Neto (born 10 September 1979) more commonly known simply as Vicente, is a retired Brazilian football striker who spent most of his career in China.
Club career
Early career
Vicente would play his early career in Brazil wh ...
helped the club to a seven-game winning streak early in the season. Pei Encai was hired away by the
Chinese women's football team. Chen Fangping came in as the new manager during the season and carried on Pei Encai's work. Despite several injuries to some key players the club were able to win the 2005 Chinese Super League Cup by beating
Shenzhen Jianlibao
Shenzhen Football Club () is a Chinese professional football club that competes in the Chinese Super League. The team is based in Shenzhen, Guangdong and their home stadium is the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre that has a seating capacity of ...
3–1 on aggregate after a 1:1 away match and 2:0 home match fixture.
After his brief stint as the Chinese women's team coach, Pei Encai returned to the club. He again promoted local talent by including defenders
Ai Zhibo
Ai Zhibo () (born 29 October 1982) is a Chinese football player who currently plays as a defender for Wuhan Zall in the Chinese Super League.
Club career
Ai Zhibo played for Wuhan Hongjinlong for several seasons after graduating from their ...
and Cai Xi and midfielders Zhou Yi and Chinese U-23 player
Zhou Heng
Zhou Heng (; Pinyin: ''Zhōu Héng''; born November 24, 1985 in Wuhan, Hubei) is a Chinese football player who currently plays as a midfielder for Wuhan Three Towns in the China League One.
Club career
Zhou Heng began his professional football c ...
on the team. However, he was unable to achieve the same success upon his return and the club finished tenth. In the following season youngsters
Deng Zhuoxiang
Deng Zhuoxiang (, born 24 October 1988) is a Chinese footballer who currently plays for Wuhan Three Towns in the China League One.
Club career
Deng Zhuoxiang started his football career in the 2005 league season playing for Wuhan Optics Vall ...
, Chinese U-23 players
Zeng Cheng
Zeng Cheng (; born 8 January 1987) is a Chinese footballer who currently plays for Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League.
Club career
Zeng Cheng started his football career at top tier side Wuhan Guanggu; however, he was soon loaned o ...
,
Rong Hao
Rong Hao (; ; born 7 April 1987) is a Chinese professional footballer who currently plays for Chinese Super League club Guangzhou F.C. as a right-footed left-back.
Club career
Rong Hao started his football career with Wuhan Guanggu in 2006, m ...
and
Di You
Di You (; born 26 November 1983) is a retired China, Chinese association football, football midfielder.
Club career
Di You started his professional football career with top-tier Chinese club Bayi Football Team, a football team under the sport b ...
joined the BBC team. Rong Hao and Di You suffered knee injuries during the season. Despite finishing seventh Pei Encai and the club decided to part way s and Chen Fangping was brought back in as a manager at the beginning of the
2008 Chinese Super League
The 2008 Chinese Super League (known as the Kingway 2008 Chinese Super League for sponsorship reasons) was the 5th season since the establishment of the Chinese Super League and the 15th season of the professional football league in China. Super L ...
. His use of inappropriate tactics led the club quickly into the relegation zone, and he was soon sacked. Former Chinese football team manager
Zhu Guanghu
Zhu Guanghu (; born September 25, 1949 in Shanghai, China) is a Chinese football coach and a former player. As a player, he was predominantly remembered for his time at Shanghai Football Team before going into management where he started off ...
was then brought in to change the club's fortunes around. He decided that the club needed to strengthen their defence and brought in Chinese international
Li Weifeng
Li Weifeng (; born 1 December 1978) is a Chinese football manager and former international footballer. He is the manager of the Chinese Super League side Guangzhou City FC.
Club career
Li Weifeng started his football career with Tianjin Loco ...
for three million yuan.
Disbandment
On 27 September 2008 the club were playing the eighteenth league game out of thirty against
Beijing Guoan
Beijing Guoan Football Club () is a professional football club that currently participates in the Chinese Super League under licence from the Chinese Football Association (CFA). The team is based in the Chaoyang District in Beijing and their ho ...
when Li Weifeng and Beijing player
Lu Jiang had a scuffle on the field. The Chinese FA decided to issue each player with an eight match ban and a fine of 1,170
USD
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
. Wuhan chairman Shen Liefeng refused to accept the punishment and threatened to quit the Chinese football league and sought legal advice. On 1 October 2008, the club and the Chinese FA could not come to an agreement. The club decided to quit the league. With Wuhan quitting the Chinese Super League, they were fined a further 44,000 USD by the Chinese FA, had all their matches awarded 3–0 against them, and were banned from entering any further league seasons in any division. All the senior players were either sold or loaned out. The local Hubei government took over the club's youth team and formed a new club called
Hubei Luyin
Wuhan Yangtze River Football Club, formerly Wuhan Zall Football Club (), is a professional Chinese football club that currently participates in the Chinese Super League under licence from the Chinese Football Association (CFA). The team is based i ...
to take part at the bottom of the Chinese league system within the third tier at the beginning of the 2009 league season.
Name history
*1954–1993 Hubei ()
*1994–1995 Hubei WISCO ()
*1996 Hubei Mailyard ()
*1997–1998 Wuhan Yaqi ()
*1999–2000 Wuhan Hongtao K (武汉红桃K)
*2001 Wuhan Hongjinlong ()
*2002 Wuhan Donghu Hi-Tech ()
*2003 Wuhan Guoce Bluestar ()
*2004–2005 Wuhan Huanghelou ()
*2006–2008 Wuhan Optics Valley ().
Managerial history
Managers who have coached the team since the club became a professional unit back in 1994.
*
Ding Sanshi (1994–95)
*
Yin Lihua
Yin may refer to:
*the dark force in the yin and yang from traditional Chinese philosophy and medicine
*Yīn (surname) (), a Chinese surname
*Yǐn (surname) (), a Chinese surname
*Shang dynasty, also known as the Yin dynasty
**Yinxu or Yin, the S ...
(1995–98)
*
Park Jong-hwan
Park Jong-hwan ( born 9 February 1938) is a former South Korean football manager.
Managerial career
Considered one of South Korea's greatest football managers in the 20th century, Park led South Korean under-20 team to the semi-finals in t ...
(1998)
*
Qi Wusheng
Qi Wusheng (; ; born May 20, 1944 in Weihai) is a Chinese football coach and a former international player.
Playing career
Despite being born in Shandong, Qi would go on to play for teams within Liaoning before he would be selected for the Ch ...
(1998–99)
*
Hu Zhigang
Hu Zhigang (Chinese: 胡之刚; 29 February 1944 – ) is a Chinese football coach and a former international goalkeeper. As a player he represented Shanghai football team while internationally he played for the Chinese national football team in ...
(1999)
*
Zhu Bo
Zhu Bo (; Pinyin: ''Zhū Bō''; ; born on September 24, 1960 in Dalian, Liaoning) is a Chinese football manager and a former international football player. As a player, he was a right-back who represented Bayi Football Team where he won several ...
(interim) (April 1999 – July 99)
*
Milorad Kosanović
Milorad Kosanović ( sr-Cyrl, Милорад Косановић, ; born 4 January 1951) is a Serbian former football player and manager.
During his playing career, Kosanović represented Proleter Zrenjanin, Vojvodina, Kikinda and Novi Sad, compe ...
(1999)
* Yin Lihua (2000–01)
*
Liu Wuyi (2001–03)
*
Pei Encai
Pei Encai (; born 1 December 1953) is a Chinese football manager and a former player.
Playing career
Pei Encai would spend his youth within the Chinese military where he rose to be a Colonel. While in the army he would show to be promising mid ...
(July 2003 – May 5)
*
Chen Fangping (2005)
* Pei Encai (Dec 2005 – Sept 07)
* Chen Fangping (2007–08)
*
Zhu Guanghu
Zhu Guanghu (; born September 25, 1949 in Shanghai, China) is a Chinese football coach and a former player. As a player, he was predominantly remembered for his time at Shanghai Football Team before going into management where he started off ...
(2008)
Honours
All-time honours list including semi-professional period.
League
* Chinese Jia-B League /
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 ...
(Second Tier League)
: 1980, 1997, 2004
Cups
* Chinese Super League Cup
: 2005
Reserve Team
* Reserve League Champions
: 2008
Results
All-time League Rankings
*As of the end of 2008 season.
No league games in 1959, 1966–72, 1975;
* In final group stage. In second group stage. In group stage.
Key
* Pld = Played
* W = Games won
* D = Games drawn
* L = Games lost
* F = Goals for
* A = Goals against
* Pts = Points
* Pos = Final position
* DNQ = Did not qualify
* DNE = Did not enter
* NH = Not Held
*- = Does Not Exist
* R1 = Round 1
* R2 = Round 2
* R3 = Round 3
* R4 = Round 4
* F = Final
* SF = Semi-finals
* QF = Quarter-finals
* R16 = Round of 16
* Group = Group stage
* GS2 = Second Group stage
* QR1 = First Qualifying Round
* QR2 = Second Qualifying Round
* QR3 = Third Qualifying Round
See also
*
Hubei Luyin F.C.
References
External links
Official websiteFans Official website{{in lang, zh
Defunct football clubs in China
Sport in Wuhan
Football clubs in China
Association football clubs established in 1994
Association football clubs disestablished in 2008
1994 establishments in China
2008 disestablishments in China