Hunan Billows F.C.

Chinese football club

Football club

Hunan Billows
Húnán Xiāngtāo
湖南湘涛

Full name| Hunan Billows Football Club
湖南湘涛足球俱乐部
Founded| 26 December 2006; 18 years ago (2006-12-26)
Ground| Loudi Sports Center, Loudi
Capacity| 30,000
Chairman| Li Jingman
Manager| Jia Hong
2024| China League Two, 8th of 20 (expelled from league)

Home colours

Away colours

|

Hunan Billows Football Club (Chinese: 湖南湘涛足球俱乐部; pinyin: Húnán Xiāngtāo Zúqiú Jùlèbù) is a Chinese professional football club based in Changsha, Hunan. Historically, Hunan Billows has played its home matches at various grounds across their home province, and last played at the Loudi Sports Center in Loudi, Hunan. Their majority shareholders were the Hunan Provincial Sports Bureau and high-tech industry company Hunan Corun New Energy Co. Ltd.

The club was founded on December 26, 2006, and won the 2009 Chinese League Two title and promotion to the Chinese League One division, but was relegated back after the 2016 season.

## History

[edit]

### Formation

[edit]

To preserve the representation of Hunan province in the Chinese football league pyramid after the dissolution of Hunan Shoking, the local Hunan Provincial Sports Bureau decided that it would be best to invest in a new team for the area.[1] On December 26, 2006, a new team was formed to participate in the 2007 league season called Hunan Billows F.C. with Xiong Ni returning as their chairman and Li Kejia returning as their manager.[2] Now playing within the 6,000-seat Hunan Provincial People's Stadium. The team was completely rebuilt and played their first league game against Sichuan FC in a 1–0 defeat.[3] Throughout the season the club's results improved and the team finished third in the Southern division. They made the play-offs but were knocked out in the second round.[4] With a further investment of six million Yuan from the local Hunan government sports body, in the following season results the club gained another play-off position. Again they were knocked out in the second round.[5] By the 2009 league season and with the continued investment of the local Hunan government sports body and of the management of Men Wenfeng, the club won the division title after they beat local rivals Hubei Luyin in the playoff final to win the division title.[6] In the second tier again, they moved back into the Helong Stadium and hired Zhao Faqing as their new manager at the beginning of the 2010 league season. The season began well for the club and they looked like genuine promotion contenders. Conflicts between the Hunan and the Hubei Greenery fans during their May 14 game seemed to derail their promotion push. They finished the season in sixth.[7] The next season they moved into the 20,000-seat Central South University Stadium and brought in Miloš Hrstić to manage them. Miloš Hrstić's leadership improved the team's ranking at the end of the 2011 league season slightly – they finished fourth. He left the club at the end of the season and was replaced by his assistant coach Zhang Xu.[8] In preparation for the 2012 league season the club brought in several high-profile players such as Honduras internationals Emil Martínez and Erick Norales and Chinese international Dong Fangzhuo in their hopes to win promotion.[9] The recruitment for not result in promotion that season, but it brought an increase in investment in from the Hunan Liuyang River Wine Winery Industry Co., Ltd., Zoomlion Company Limited, Central South Publishing & Media Group Co., Ltd., Kelme and the return of Hunan Corun New Energy co. ltd.[10]

Hunan Billows FC football shirt in 2016

Hunan declined in the mid-2010s and were relegated back to League Two in 2016.

## Grounds

[edit]

The team have played in several stadiums throughout their history. When they were formed they predominantly used the 55,000-seat Helong Stadium in Changsha for their important matches. The more modest 6,000-seat Hunan Provincial People's Stadium which is also located in Changsha was used for their smaller games.[11] With the club in financial difficulties the cost of renting the Helong Stadium led the team to move permanently into the Hunan Provincial People's Stadium. They started there when the club was reformed and they were playing in the third tier. When they won promotion back into the second tier, the Helong Stadium was an option for a brief period before 2011 when they have predominantly used the 20,000-seat Central South University Stadium in Changsha as their main stadium.[12]

## Players

[edit]

### Current squad

[edit]

As of 5 March 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

3  | DF |  CHN | Liu Qing
4  | FW |  CHN | Xu Jiang
5  | DF |  CHN | Ou Li
6  | DF |  CHN | Qin Zhenkang
7  | MF |  CHN | Liu Peilin
8  | MF |  CHN | Wang Yuxuan
9  | FW |  CHN | He Yaqi
12  | DF |  CHN | Zhang Chenlong
13  | MF |  CHN | Wu Xiaotian
15  | DF |  CHN | Miao Huaxu
41  | DF |  CHN | Lu Jiatong
42  | MF |  CHN | Tan Yu
43  | MF |  CHN | Wang Kuifeng
44  | DF |  CHN | Zhou Xuan
45  | DF |  CHN | Song Yanbin
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

47  | DF |  CHN | Peng Bo
48  | FW |  CHN | Nie Xinlei
49  | MF |  CHN | Wu Qinghua
50  | DF |  CHN | Zhang Xiaoming
51  | DF |  CHN | Yin Ruirui
52  | FW |  CHN | Wang Bo
54  | MF |  CHN | Sun Qi
55  | DF |  CHN | Xia Shichao
56  | DF |  CHN | Liu Guanjun
57  | DF |  CHN | Li Zhihao
58  | FW |  CHN | Huang Haotian
59  | DF |  CHN | Wang Bin
60  | MF |  CHN | Tan Youchuan
62  | MF |  CHN | Zhang Hanwen
50  | GK |  CHN | Yan Zhicheng
-- | GK |  CHN | Dong Jianhong
-- | GK |  CHN | Wang Zixuan
-- | DF |  CHN | Zu Pengchao
-- | DF |  CHN | Jiang Zhe
-- | DF |  CHN | Liu Jing
-- | DF |  CHN | Chen Fangzhou
-- | DF |  CHN | Chen Ao (at Qingdao West Coast)
-- | MF |  CHN | Xu Zhaoji
-- | MF |  CHN | Qeyser Tursun
-- | FW |  CHN | Wei Zhenghong

## Coaching staff

[edit]

Position  | Staff

|

Head coach  |  Jia Hong
Assistant coach  |
Goalkeeping Coach  |
Fitness coach  |
Team Physician  |

Source: sina.com

### Managerial history

[edit]

* Li Kejia 26 December 2006 – 2008
* Men Wenfeng 2009
* Zhao Faqing 2009–19 December 2009
* Miloš Hrstić 19 December 2009 – 1 November 2011
* Zhang Xu 1 November 2011 – 11 December 2012
* Dražen Besek 11 December 2012 – 25 July 2013
* Huang Cheng (Caretaker) 25 July 2013 – 27 November 2014
* Aleksandar Stankov 27 November 2014 – 2 May 2015
* Zhang Xu (caretaker) 2 May 2015 – 6 August 2015
* Žikica Tasevski 6 August 2015 – 1 November 2015
* Tomaž Kavčič 30 November 2015 – 28 May 2016
* Huang Xiangdong (caretaker) 28 May 2016 – 31 December 2016
* Zhang Xu 1 January 2017 – 27 May 2017
* Vladimir Slišković 3 February 2017 – 26 August 2017
* Li Hongwu (caretaker) 27 May 2017 – 23 June 2017
* Patrick de Wilde 23 June 2017 – 5 December 2017
* Pei Encai 22 February 2018 – 7 July 2018
* Sun Wei 7 July 2018 – 25 February 2019
* Tang Jing 25 February 2019 – 2 June 2020
* Wang Chen 2 June 2020 – 31 December 2020
* Jia Hong 1 January 2021 –

## Results

[edit]

All-time league rankings

* As of the end of 2019 season.[13][14]

Year  | Div  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts  | Pos.  | FA Cup | Super Cup | AFC | Att./G  | Stadium

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2007 | 3 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 16 | −1 | 16  1 | 8[15] | NH | DNQ | DNQ |  | Hunan Provincial People's Stadium
2008 | 3 | 16 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 14 | 19 | 28  1 | 6[16] | NH | DNQ | DNQ |  | Hunan Provincial People's Stadium
2009 | 3 | 17 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 30 | 17 | 13 | 15  1 | W | NH | DNQ | DNQ |  | Hunan Provincial People's Stadium
2010 | 2 | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 21 | 24 | −3 | 35 | 6 | NH | DNQ | DNQ |  | Hunan Provincial People's Stadium
2011 | 2 | 26 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 39 | 35 | 4 | 42 | 4 | R1 | DNQ | DNQ |  | Hunan Provincial People's Stadium
CSUFT East-Garden Stadium
2012 | 2 | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 33 | 37 | −4 | 38 | 11 | R3 | DNQ | DNQ | 6,970 | CSUFT East-Garden Stadium
Hunan Provincial People's Stadium
Yiyang Olympic Sports Park Stadium
2013 | 2 | 30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 27 | 40 | −13 | 30 | 12 | R3 | DNQ | DNQ | 4,668 | Yiyang Olympic Sports Park Stadium
Helong Stadium
2014 | 2 | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 38 | 33 | 5 | 45 | 6 | R3 | DNQ | DNQ | 5,169 | CSUFT East-Garden Stadium
Yiyang Olympic Sports Park Stadium
2015 | 2 | 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 32 | 48 | −16 | 29 | 14 | R2 | DNQ | DNQ | 4,795 | Yiyang Olympic Sports Park Stadium
Helong Stadium
2016 | 2 | 30 | 2 | 6 | 22 | 16 | 61 | −54 | 12 | 16 | R2 | DNQ | DNQ | 3,781 | Yiyang Olympic Sports Park Stadium
2017 | 3 | 24 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 31 | 33 | −2 | 31 | 16 | R1 | DNQ | DNQ | 712 | Yiyang Olympic Sports Park Stadium
2018 | 3 | 28 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 43 | 32 | 11 | 40 | 10 | R3 | DNQ | DNQ | 398 | Yiyang Olympic Sports Park Stadium
2019 | 3 | 30 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 17 | 59 | −42 | 20  1 | 28 | R2 | DNQ | DNQ |  | Yiyang Olympic Sports Park Stadium

* ^1 In group stage.

Key

|  |  China top division

|

|  China second division
|  China third division
W  |  Winners
RU  |  Runners-up
3  |  Third place
|  Relegated

* 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

## Honours

[edit]

* China League Two (tier-III)[6]
* Champions (1): 2009

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "球迷捐助300万重组湘军 湘涛俱乐部成立战中乙". sohu.com. 2007-01-24. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
2. ^ "熊倪倾情关注湖南足球 湘涛回家备战07乙级联赛". hnxiangtao.com. 2007-04-12. Archived from the original on 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
3. ^ "乙级联赛湘涛首战失利 0比1惜败给来访四川队". hnxiangtao.com. 2007-05-06. Archived from the original on 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
4. ^ "China 2007". RSSSF. 18 Apr 2008. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
5. ^ "湖南湘涛砸六百万冲甲". sina.com.cn. 2008-04-29. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
6. ^ a b "China 2009". RSSSF. 23 Apr 2010. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
7. ^ "湘鄂球迷爆小规模冲突 不和谐因子去年已种下(图)". sports.sina.com.cn. 2010-05-14. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
8. ^ "China 2010". RSSSF. 21 Jun 2012. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
9. ^ "08中超足球先生马丁内斯加盟湖南湘涛". hnxiangtao.com. 2011-12-15. Archived from the original on 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
10. ^ "湘涛备战加一鞭子". epaper.voc.com.cn. 2013-01-08. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
11. ^ "Hunan Xiangtao FC". soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
12. ^ "Team's stadiums" (in Chinese). hnxiangtao.com , team website. Archived from the original on November 27, 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
13. ^ "China – List of Champions". RSSSF. 20 March 2014. Archived from the original on July 4, 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
14. ^ "湖南湘涛". sodasoccer.com. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
15. ^ 2007年中国足球协会乙级联赛决赛阶段比赛名次 Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine fa.org.cn 2013-04-30 Retrieved 2016-03-04
16. ^ 2008年中国足球协会乙级联赛决赛阶段比赛名次 Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine fa.org.cn 2013-04-30 Retrieved 2016-03-04

## External links

[edit]

* Official website (in Chinese)

* v
* t
* e

China League Two

Seasons|

* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Clubs|

| 2025|

* Beijing IT
* Changchun Xidu
* Chengdu Rongcheng B
* Ganzhou Ruishi
* Guangdong Mingtu
* Guangxi Hengchen
* Guangxi Lanhang
* Guangzhou Pugongying
* Guizhou Zhucheng Athletic
* Haikou Mingcheng
* Hubei Istar
* Jiangxi Dark Horse Junior
* Jiangxi Lushan
* Langfang Glory City
* Nantong Haimen Codion
* Quanzhou Yassin
* Rizhao Yuqi
* Shandong Taishan B
* Shanghai Port B
* Shenzhen 2028
* Tai'an Tiankuang
* Wuhan Three Towns B
* Wuxi Wugo
* Yan'an Ronghai

|

Former|

* Anhui Hefei Guiguan
* Anhui Jiufang
* Anhui Litian
* Baoding Yingli ETS
* Baosteel Shanghai
* Bayi Football Team
* Beijing Bus
* Beijing Chengfeng
* Beijing Guoan II
* Beijing Kuanli
* Beijing Sangao
* Beijing Shougang
* Beijing SU
* Beijing Yitong Kuche
* Beijing Youth
* BSU Huabang
* Cangzhou Mighty Lions
* Changchun Yatai
* Chengdu Qbao
* Chengdu Rongcheng
* Chengdu Tiancheng
* Chongqing
* Chongqing Liangjiang Athletic
* Chongqing Tonglianglong
* Chongqing Youth
* Chongqing Yuhai
* Dali Ruilong
* Dalian Changbo
* Dalian Chanjoy
* Dalian K'un City
* Dalian Pro
* Dalian Shunfa
* Dalian Transcendence
* Dalian Yingbo
* Dandong Tengyue
* Dongguan Dongcheng
* Foshan Fosti
* Foshan Nanshi
* Fujian Broncos
* Fujian Ningde Funing
* Fushun Shenfu
* Fushun Xinye
* Gansu Aoxin
* Guangdong Mingfeng
* Guangdong GZ-Power
* Guangdong South China Tiger
* Guangdong Youth
* Guangxi Pingguo Haliao
* Guangxi Longguida
* Guangxi Tianji
* Guangxi Yinli
* Guangzhou Baiyunshan
* Guangzhou Sunray Cave Easter
* Guangzhou Youth
* Guizhou
* Hainan Boying
* Hangzhou Qiantang
* Hangzhou Sanchao
* Harbin Guoli
* Harbin Lange
* Hebei
* Hebei Shiyao
* Hebei Xuechi
* Hebei Youth
* Hebei Zhuoao
* Heilongjiang Ice City
* Henan
* Hohhot Black Horse
* Hubei CTGU Kangtian
* Hubei Youth
* Hunan Billows
* Inner Mongolia Caoshangfei
* Inner Mongolia Zhongyou
* Jiangsu
* Jiangsu Fasten
* Jiangsu HHU
* Jiangsu Youth
* Jilin Baijia
* Jinan Xingzhou
* Jinzhou Jinshi
* Lanzhou Xinxing
* Liaoning II
* Liaoning Tieren
* Liaoning Tiger
* Liaoning Tiger Star
* Liaoning Youth
* Liaoning Zhongba
* Kunming Zheng He Shipman
* Kunshan
* Lhasa UCI
* Meizhou Hakka
* Nanjing Baotai
* Nanjing City
* Nanjing Shaye
* Nantong Zhiyun
* Ningbo Huaao
* Panjin
* Panjin Mengzun
* Qingdao
* Qingdao Hailifeng
* Qingdao Hainiu
* Qingdao Liming
* Qingdao Red Lions
* Qingdao Shifang
* Qingdao UST
* Qingdao West Coast
* Qinghai
* Qinghai Sanpu
* Qinghai Senke
* Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic
* Shaanxi Daqin
* Shaanxi Laochenggen
* Shaanxi Sanhe
* Shaanxi Star
* Shaanxi Warriors Beyond
* Shaanxi Wuzhou
* Shandong Taishan
* Shandong Tengding
* Shandong Youth
* Shanghai 02
* Shanghai Biyun Liangqian
* Shanghai Fubao
* Shanghai Jiading Huilong
* Shanghai JuJu Sports
* Shanghai Kehai
* Shanghai Port
* Shanghai Shenxin
* Shanghai Sunfun
* Shanghai United
* Shanghai Yuyuan
* Shanghai Zhongfangji
* Shanghai Zobon
* Shanxi Longjin
* Shaoxing Keqiao Yuejia
* Shenyang Dongjin
* Shenzhen
* Shenzhen Bogang
* Shenzhen Fengpeng
* Shenzhen Kejian
* Shenzhen Ledman
* Shenzhen Main Sports
* Shenzhen Pengcheng
* Shenzhen Peng City
* Shijiazhuang Gongfu
* Shijiazhuang Tiangong
* Sichuan
* Sichuan First City
* Sichuan Golden Eagle
* Sichuan Leaders
* Sichuan Longfor
* Sichuan Mianyang
* Sichuan Minzu
* Suzhou Dongwu
* Suzhou Trips
* Taizhou Yuanda
* Tianjin Dongli
* Tianjin Huochetou
* Tianjin Lifei
* Tianjin Mingte
* Tianjin Tianhai
* Tianjin Wanke
* Weihai Sanjiao
* Wenzhou Provenza
* Wuhan Jiangcheng
* Wuhan Three Towns
* Wuhan Yangtze River
* Wuhan Yaqi
* Xiamen Blue Lions
* Xiamen Egret Island
* Xi'an Anxinyuan
* Xi'an Wolves
* Xinjiang Begonia
* Xinjiang Sport Lottery
* Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard
* Yanbian Beiguo
* Yanbian Funde
* Yanbian Longding
* Yancheng Luzhiying
* Yinchuan Helanshan
* Yunnan Flying Tigers
* Yunnan Hongta
* Yunnan Lijiang Dongba
* Yunnan Tianyuan
* Yunnan Yukun
* Zhanjiang Tiandi No.1
* Zhejiang
* Zhenjiang Groupway
* Zhuhai Qin'ao
* Zibo Cuju
* Zibo Qisheng

* Defunct clubs in italics

Associated competitions|

* CFA Cup

Prospects|

* Promotion to China League One
* Relegation to Chinese Champions League
* Relegation to CFA U-21 League

*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[DF]: Defender
*[FW]: Forward
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template