On November 3, 2013, the 30th round of the Chinese Super League came to an end at the Workers' Stadium in Beijing. In the 77th minute, Zhang Xizhe assisted Gelong's shot into the net, and Guoan fans chanted "Qingdao, relegated" in the Workers' Stadium.
Qingdao Zhongneng lost 0-1, only 31 points in 30 rounds of matches, and had no choice but to be relegated. Players have collapsed on the turf of the stadium, tears, coaches and staff also cover their faces and cry.
Qingdao fans who came from afar shouted "Come back next year" from the stands to boost the team's morale, and the players had tears in their eyes as they struggled to contain their nerves.
Investor Qiao Weiguang was also in tears, as the team owner, he cried uncontrollably on the sidelines, as if he were an aggrieved child.
The day after the race, Qiao Weiguang firmly said, "We'll be back!"
Joe Weiguang, who witnessed his team's relegation, lost his voice and cried.
On October 6, 2013, the afterglow of the National Day has not yet dissipated. In the 27th round of the Chinese Super League, Guangzhou Evergrande defeated Shandong Luneng 4-2 at Jinan Olympic Sports Center, winning the Chinese Super League title three rounds ahead of schedule and accomplishing a third consecutive title.
Six days later in a Chinese Super League bye, Qingdao Jonoon turned back Tianjin Teda 4-1 at home, but remained deep in the relegation zone.
At the beginning of the season, Qingdao Zhongneng had a seven-round unbeaten streak, once leading the Chinese Super League and occupying the top four positions for a long time. At the end of the halfway point, Zhongneng was tied for fifth place with 21 points, hoping to make an impact on the AFC Champions League.
However, in July, Zhongneng had to loan core player Zheng Long to Evergrande.
"In order to achieve the set goal of the AFC Champions League, Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club and related parties have repeatedly put forward the intention of introducing Zheng Long to help the team impact the AFC Champions League. Zheng Long himself has always harbored a strong desire to stand on a higher stage to realize his personal dream.
After repeated consultations and fully respecting Zheng Long's strong desire for personal development, a loan agreement was finally reached to help Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club achieve its AFC Champions League goal and contribute to the breakout of Chinese soccer from Asia.
Zheng Long's loan is for the end of the season. With the domestic soccer environment heating up, Chinese soccer needs to improve its performance to meet the social expectations that match it. Hereby, Qingdao Jonoon Football Club wishes Zheng Long to play his best and help Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club to achieve the desired results in the AFC Champions League, to add glory to Chinese soccer and to the country."
Zheng Long had six months left on his contract with Zhongneng, and after a six-month loan, his contract expired as well, and Zheng Long officially joined Evergrande at the end of that season.
Qingdao Jonoon announces Zheng Long's loan to Evergrande
It is said that a senior leader at the time called the club directly to ask for his release for one simple reason:
Support Evergrande to play AFC Champions League.
Evergrande didn't want it for nothing, paying more than 20 million in loan fees for an international player who has played for a year is probably the same as "picking up for nothing".
Evergrande is fed up, and the Chinese can crash and go undefeated for 15 consecutive matches starting from the 12th round of the league.
Before the final round of away games against Guoan, Zhongneng has 31 points and only needs one point at the Gongtai to overpower Changchun Yatai for relegation.
However, it was not to be.
Yatai in the final round of the "Northeast derby" in the home 1-0 victory over Liaozhu, accumulated 32 points, over Zhongneng, thrilling relegation.
Six days after Zhongneng's relegation, Evergrande drew 1-1 with Elkeson's goal against Seoul FC at the Tianhe Sports Center, with a two-round aggregate score of 3-3, to win the Asian title with the advantage of more goals scored on the road, and also to win the Asian title again after 23 years for the Chinese club.
On November 28th, Zhongneng organized a forum for fans to reflect on the past, sum up experience and look forward to the future.
Fans were enthusiastic and actively contributed: "Don't find excuses for failure, only find ways to succeed."
Listening to the seriousness of the fans' speeches, Qiao Weiguang cried again.
"I've had more tears in that time than in the last couple decades."
Joe Weiguang is crying on the bench
"Over the last nine years we have survived a couple of relegation battles, two in sixth place and one in seventh, and have gained a wealth of experience which will form the basis of our future revival."
In the end, Qiao Weiguang said, "It's still the same saying, where you fall down, get up."
I just didn't realize that the way up would be so difficult.
Those were the years when Chinese soccer swung for the fences.
In October 2016, after two years of hibernation in the Central League, the team dropped "twice in three years" into the Central League.
That's another four years, with a lot of money being invested in the mid-2020s, but credit where credit is due.
Qiao Weiguang also wanted to quit, but as a native Qingdao child, as well as a special affection for soccer, he finally resisted the pressure and took the club, which had gone through vicissitudes, to continue to move forward.
At the beginning of 2021, Qingdao Zhongneng officially changed its name to Qingdao Hainiu at the request of the Chinese Football Association to neutralize the name of professional clubs.
Qingdao Hainiu beat Xiamen Ludao 2-0 in the 12th round of Group A on Nov. 14, returning to the Central League after five years.
Qiao Weiguang, who is in Qingdao, opened the champagne, filled his glass and drank it all, saying, "Our ultimate goal is to get back to the top league."
On November 22nd, the final round of China B, Qingdao Hainiu won the championship with a 2-2 draw against Guangxi Pingguoha.
Qingdao Hainiu won the Championship of China B
In conclusion, he said, "As Manatee has become the city brand of Qingdao, we have to continue to move towards higher dreams!"
In June 1992, the National Football Work Conference was held in Hongshankou, Beijing, which decided to establish a system of soccer clubs and implement a professional league.
Accordingly, the Qingdao municipal government decided to form its own professional team, the Qingdao Manatees, with the Shandong Provincial Economic and Trade Commission (Qingdao) soccer team as the main body.
Qingdao Manatee FC was officially established on December 31, 1993, becoming the first professional team in Qingdao.
In less than a year, Qingdao Hainiu managed to win the A B Championship A. For the next 10 years, even though it went back and forth between A A, A, and AB, it has been a force to be reckoned with in Chinese soccer.
At the end of 2004, Yizhong Tobacco decided to transfer all the shares of its former Qingdao Yizhong Manatee Football Club to the "Football City" Qingdao faced with the dilemma of the only Chinese Super League team to leave the rest of the world. Coordinated by the Qingdao Municipal Government and the Municipal Sports Bureau, Qingdao Zhongneng signed an agreement with Yizhong Group, which transferred the club to Zhongneng Group.
From then on, Nakanen has stuck with it until now.
Qingdao Manatee Club hosted a celebration on May 10, 2021 with the themes of "Legacy", "Tribute" and "Dream", with more than 400 people gathered. More than 400 people gathered in a full house.
At the celebration site, Qiao Weiguang was very moved: "Because of the manatee complex, we all get together, and soccer best reflects our city. Our business, especially ordinary people, has an upward spirit. Adhere to 17 years, I have no regrets."
Chairman of Qingdao Football Association, Mr. Yang Peng, Chairman of the Association, Mr. Yang Peng Ming: "In the past 17 years, there have only been 28 years of professional soccer in China. Zhongneng has not been easy in the past 17 years. The investment of these 18 years is not only the capital but also the spirit. In the past 17 years, the municipal leaders have also fully recognized the investment and persistence of Zhongneng Group. In the country, a club like ours and capital strength can reach this level, we can say we have a clear conscience to this city!"
Qiao Weiguang does have a clear conscience.
In this year's Central League, Qingdao Hainiu went on a rampage, winning 7-1 in the 32nd round and making an early decision to break into the Super League with two rounds to go in the league.
Nine years of drinking ice does not cool hot blood, Qiao Weiguang said to do.
Joe Weiguang will return with his manatee.
Just entering the business of soccer, Qiao Weiguang said, "As a Qingdao person, I cherish the honor and pride of Qingdao Soccer City, and Manatee is the business card of this city."
In April, Qingdao FC, which was relegated from the Chinese Super League last season, announced its withdrawal from the Chinese Professional Football League.
