Name: Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club Nickname: Southern China Tigers City: Guangzhou - Guangdong, China Stadium: Tianhe Stadium Official website: http://www.gzevergrandefc.com/ Honors: 3 Chinese Super League, 1 Chinese FA Cup, 1 Chinese Super Cup, 1 AFC Champions League A background: Before and after 2010 The club was founded in 1954 as Guangzhou Football Team, only to keep fluctuating from top-division minnows to a second-tier strugglers for decades. However, Guangzhou's fortunes witnessed a dramatic change when Evergrande Real Estate Group took over the club in 2010. After they won promotion to first division, the yo-yo side shockingly became champions of China in three successive seasons, guided by the likes of Italy's legendary coach Marcello Lippi. Players to watch Elkeson Forward Elkeson earned his status as Guangzhou's marksman after finishing the Chinese Super League on top of the competition's scoring charts with a massive 24-goal tally in 28 games. The Brazilian also hit six goals in the Asian Champions League to help Guangzhou claim their first-ever continental title this year. Elkeson, 24, played for Vitoria and Botafogo before moving to Guangzhou in 2013, proving a major success for the Chinese side. A two-footed striker with fine heading abilities as well, Elkeson was called up only once by Brazil, even so he has yet to make a single appearance for the Selecao. Muriqui Another Brazilian to be reckoned with is Mariqui, the man who topped the AFC Champions League scoring charts with an impressive 13-goal tally. Like Elkeson, Muriqui kicked off his career in his homeland, but this time at Madureira in 2004 before moving six years later to China following loan spells at nearly eight Brazilian outfits. He made an instant impact though, helping Guangzhou win promotion back to the top flight to then become the competition's top scorer with 16 goals. Muriqui continued his exploits for the Chinese league holders to help them clinch the domestic FA Super Cup in 2012 before steering his team to the Champions League winning podium the following season. Muriqui has now become Guangzhou's all-time leading goalscorer in all competitions as his 13 Champions League goals made him the highest player to score in the continental tournament. Manager: Marcello Lippi The highly decorated Italian manager is widely known for his major feat when he guided the Azzuri to the World Cup title in 2006. Lippi, who led Juventus to the UEFA Champions League trophy in 1996, took over Guangzhou in the summer of 2012 to embark on a glorious era that saw him steer the Chinese outfit to back-to-back league titles. The Former Sampdoria defender is the only manager in the world to claim the Champions League at the helm of two teams from different continents.
