Tim Cahill discusses move to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua 3:01
Socceroos star Tim Cahill discusses his decision to join Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.
- Fox Sports
- 03 Feb 2015
- Sport/Football/Socceroos
Shanghai Shenhua players Didier Drogba (L) and Nicolas Anelka (R) in 2012. Source: Getty Images
SOCCEROOS legend Tim Cahill is off to Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League.
He’s not the first Australian to head to China to play football, but he’s certainly the highest profile.
Here’s your 10-point guide to the next stop in Cahill’s club adventure after departing New York Red Bulls on Tuesday morning, with some expert insight from former Central Coast Mariners striker Daniel McBreen, who now plays for South China, after a stint at Shenhua’s city rivals Shanghai East Asia.
THE LEAGUE
A 16-team league that will kick-off in a month’s time. Guangzhou Evergrande were the champions last year, while Cahill’s new outfit finished ninth.
Shandong Luneng, Beijing Guoan and Guizhou Renhe played in this year’s Asian Champions League, won by the Wanderers. Guangzhou famously lost to Western Sydney in the quarter-finals, with Marcello Lippi storming onto the Parramatta Stadium turf.
The league averaged 18, 986 in crowd attendances last year, with Guangzhou’s 42,154 the top.
In the International Federation of Football History and Statistics survey last year of the strongest leagues in the world, it came in 34th, a jump from 70th, in a list topped by Spain’s La Liga. The A-League came in 99th.
Socceroos star Tim Cahill's legendary EPL career 1:45
Fox Sports looks back at Tim Cahill's best moments in the EPL.
- Fox Sports
- 03 Feb 2015
- Sport/Football/EPL
THE REACH
30 million watched Guangzhou Evergrande win the Champions League in 2013. According to Xinhau news agency the match “drew an average audience of 23.68 million viewers on CCTV-5.” In total, the 2013 AFC Champions League “has achieved a combined average rating of 280 million, with a combined reach of 1.37 billion.”
An astonishing 250 million watched China at the Asian Cup finals in 2014. That’s a lot of eyeballs on Tim Cahill’s bicycle kick in the quarter-finals.
Tim Cahill with his sons Shae (9 years) and Kyah (11 years). Source: News Corp Australia
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT SHANGHAI SHENHUA?
They’re a club with big ambitions fiercely determined to right the wrongs of recent years, where they have fallen behind the chasing pack, including city rivals Shanghai SIPG, now coached by Sven-Goran Eriksson. They finished ninth last term, but with the muscle of the Greenland Group, a Chinese property developer which took over from Zhu Jun in January 2014, are looking to a return to the top, to add to its premierships in 1995 and 2003. The company, which owns 28.5 per cent of the club, are China’s largest property developer by sales and are diversifying across the finance industry.
The new owners aggrieved the supporters when they eliminated Shenhua — “flower” — from the moniker when they took over, but this was rectified soon after.
The club plays at the 33,000 capacity Hongkou Stadium, but they only averaged 15,000 last term.
OTHER AUSTRALIAN LINKS?
Joel Griffiths and Mark Milligan have also played at Shanghai Shenhua, while Australian born Avraam Papadopoulos, who has played for Greece, has also just signed with the club.
Joel Griffiths on ball supported by French International player Nicolas Anelka. Source: AFP
They also played Sydney FC in the ACL back in 2011, playing at a 1-1 draw in Australia, while the A-League side enjoyed a famous 2-1 win away.
Sydney FC v Shanghai Shenhua at the SFS in 2011. Source: News Limited
WHAT WILL SHANGHAI BE LIKE TO PLAY FOOTBALL?
Cahill will be a “massive hit” in Shanghai but life in the Chinese Super League will take some getting used to.
That’s the advice from former Central Coast Mariners striker Daniel McBreen, who moved to China in 2013 to play for Shanghai Shenhua’s city rivals Shanghai East Asia.
McBreen, who now plays for South China, told foxsports.com.au: “I think Tim will be a massive hit in Shanghai. The fans are passionate and very friendly. I’m sure he’ll score plenty of goals and find Shanghai a nice place to live.”
McBreen has played in a derby against Cahill’s future club, and although crowds have declined at Shenhua as results have waned, the A-League grand final winner said the derby was a passionate occasion.
“The derby was a good atmosphere with passionate fans,” he said. “Although the atmosphere was great inside the ground fans clashed outside.”
EPL January transfer window wrap 4:12
Daniel Garb discusses Tim Cahill's future, the movement of Australian players and EPL transfer deadline day.
- Fox Sports
- 03 Feb 2015
- Sport/Football/News
WHAT’S THE STANDARD OF PLAY LIKE?
Much like the Chinese national team we saw make the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup this month, the Super League is on the way up, but with improvement needed in a couple of key areas.
“At first I found it quite difficult,” McBreen explained. “Getting used to the training and the routines was difficult at first.
“Also being quite a physical player myself I found it quite hard as fouls would be given for the slightest touch and players would go down quite easily.
“Once you adjust to this the games are quite enjoyable.”
He added: “Technically the players are very good but physically and tactically on the whole there is much improvement to be made.”
Tim Cahill set to join Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua 11:10
Socceroos star Tim Cahill discusses his decision to join Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua
- Fox Sports
- 03 Feb 2015
- Sport/Football/Socceroos
WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE TO ACCLIMATISE?
Cahill will need to adapt to a new culture and new language as well as a new team.
After the glitz of New York and elite football of the Premier League, what are the biggest hurdles he faces in China?
“Obviously there are cultural differences and the language barrier can be very difficult,” McBreen said.
“Personal space does not exist in China.”
What advice does McBreen have for Cahill as he heads to his new home?
“To go with an open mind and don’t let the little things get to you.
“Shanghai is a good city and has many hidden cafes and restaurants. If you can connect with some people who have been there a while you’ll find much more to offer.”
CHAOTIC DROGBA, ANELKA CAMEO
The superstar signing of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in 2012 put the club in the spotlight — but it only lasted one year, before the Ivorian and Frenchman returned to Europe to play at a higher level again. During Drogba’s stay, crowds rocketed to 25,000.
Under the tutelage of former Fulham boss Jean Tigana, it was a bit chaotic. Both the superstars returned, with reports that the club was struggling to pay salaries. No wonder, given Anelka and Drogba were on a reported $300,000-a-week salary — the most ever in China and, at the time, the tenth biggest pay cheque in world football.
Shanghai Shenhua's Didier Drogba, right, attempts to score a goal. Source: AP
NOT WITHOUT PROBLEMS IN THE PAST
The club was found guilty of match fixing two years ago, with the Chinese Football Association banning 33 people involved for life, while stripping the club of its 2003 Chinese Super League crown. The game in dispute was against Shaanxi Guoli in 2003.
THE FORMER OWNER
Former owner Zhu Jun, a Chinese internet gaming tycoon, made then coach Oscaldo Gimenez start him in a friendly match against Liverpool in 2007.
Before selling the majority share of the club to Greenland, Zhu Jun, who bought the club in 2007, merged the city’s two top clubs — Shenhua and United.
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