Guangzhou City F.C.

{{Short description|Chinese association football club}} {{distinguish|Guangzhou F.C.}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Guangzhou City 广州城 | image = Guangzhou City F.C.svg | upright = 0.7 | fullname = Guangzhou City Football Club 广州城足球俱乐部 | nickname = The Blue Lions<ref>{{cite web|last1=Murphy|first1=Ronan|title=Is this the weirdest Chinese Super League transfer yet?|url=http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4019/transfer-zone/2017/01/05/31153782/is-this-the-weirdest-chinese-super-league-transfer-yet|publisher=goal.com|access-date=5 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105175834/http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4019/transfer-zone/2017/01/05/31153782/is-this-the-weirdest-chinese-super-league-transfer-yet|archive-date=5 January 2017}}</ref> | short name = GZ City | founded = {{Start date and age|2011}} | dissolved = {{Start date and age|2023|3|29|df=y}} | league = | season = | position = | ground = Yuexiushan Stadium | capacity = 18,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefootballstadiums.com/yuexiushan-stadium|title=Yuexiushan Stadium – stadion – The Football Stadiums.com – Database of football stadiums|first=Jiri Vojkovsky|last=www.TheFootballStadiums.com|website=www.thefootballstadiums.com|access-date=5 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817205652/http://www.thefootballstadiums.com/yuexiushan-stadium|archive-date=17 August 2017}}</ref> | pattern_la1 = _guangzhoucity22h | pattern_b1 = _guangzhoucity22h | pattern_ra1 = _guangzhoucity22h | pattern_sh1 = _guangzhoucity22h | pattern_so1 = _guangzhoucity22h | leftarm1 = FFFFFF | body1 = FFFFFF | rightarm1 = FFFFFF | shorts1 = FFFFFF | socks1 = 158aff | pattern_la2 = _guangzhoucity21a | pattern_b2 = _guangzhoucity21a | pattern_ra2 = _guangzhoucity21a | pattern_sh2 = _guangzhoucity21a | pattern_so2 = _guangzhoucity21a | leftarm2 = 110060 | body2 = 110060 | rightarm2 = 110060 | shorts2 = 110060 | socks2 = 110060 | website = }} {{Infobox Chinese | s = 广州城 | t = 廣州城 | p = Guǎngzhōu Chéng | j = gwong2 zau1 sing4 }}

'''Guangzhou City Football Club''' ({{zh|s=广州城||t=廣州城}}) was a Chinese professional football club which last competed in the Chinese Super League. The team was based in Guangzhou, Guangdong. The club's name between 2011 and 2020 was '''Guangzhou R&F''', which was short for ''rich (富)'' and ''force (力)''. The club changed its name to Guangzhou City in December 2020.

The club was founded in 2011 in Guangzhou. They played at the 55,000-seat Wulihe Stadium, until they moved to Changsha, Hunan in 2007 to reside at the Helong Stadium. American sportswear and sports equipment company MAZAMBA took over the club in 2010, and relocated the club to Shenzhen, Guangdong in February 2011. Their ownership was brief, and by June 2011 Chinese property developers Guangzhou R&F gained ownership of the club and moved them to Guangzhou. The club had their most successful season in 2014 as they finished third in the league and qualified for the 2015 AFC Champions League.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/china-pr/csl/2014/regular-season/r23926/|title=Summary – CSL – China PR – Results, fixtures, tables and news – Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com|access-date=2016-03-12|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229010530/http://int.soccerway.com/national/china-pr/csl/2014/regular-season/r23926/|archive-date=2015-12-29}}</ref> Guangzhou City was dissolved in March 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.dongqiudi.com/article/3350932.html|title=2023职业联赛准入名单：广州城、昆山、陕西未在列|publisher=Dongqiudi|date=29 March 2023|access-date=30 March 2023|language=zh}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.dongqiudi.com/article/3351856.html|title=官方：广州城即日起暂停运营|publisher=Dongqiudi|date=29 March 2023|access-date=30 March 2023|language=zh}}</ref>

== History ==

=== History before moving to Guangzhou=== The club was founded in 1986 by the local Shenyang government sports body to take part in the Chinese football league system, and was named Shenyang. The team started at the bottom of the league system by playing in the second division. They were promoted to the 1988 Chinese Jia-A League quickly after the league expanded and Liaoning FC was ineligible to field their reserve team in the same division. The club was relegated after only one season.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/chinahist.html China League History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607124048/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesc/chinahist.html |date=2014-06-07 }} at rsssf.com. 22 Oct 2009. Retrieved 2013-06-04.</ref> With the following campaigns the club mostly remained within the second tier, except for a short foray in the 1992 Chinese Jia-A League campaign; however, they were again relegated after only one season.

By the 1994 league season, the entire Chinese football league system had become professional. The team were allowed to gather sponsorship and renamed as Shenyang Liuyao, and were allowed to join the top tier due to their 1992 membership.<ref name="China 1994">[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/china94.html China League 1994] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727150541/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesc/china94.html |date=2014-07-27 }} at rsssf.com. 19 June 2003. Retrieved 2013-06-04.</ref> When the club were relegated again at the end of the season, it was renamed Shenyang Huayang and then Shenyang Sealion in 1996. The club again won promotion to the top tier; however, this time they were able to avoid relegation. This was to be the beginning of the club's establishment within the league, though the team benefitted from several seasons where there was no relegation while the league expanded. In 2001, the club was taken over by Ginde Plastic Pipe Industry Group, a subsidiary of the Hongyuan Group and changed its name to Shenyang Ginde. In 2007, the club's homeground Wulihe Stadium was demolished. While the club was expected to move to another stadium within Shenyang, specifically the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium, the deal fell through and the club instead moved to Changsha, Hunan and changed its name to Changsha Ginde.

After Changsha Ginde were relegated to League One at the end of the 2010 season, the club was purchased by Mazamba and moved into the Shenzhen Stadium in the city of Shenzhen, Guangdong in February 2011. To represent this change, the owners changed the club's name to Shenzhen Phoenix, and also changed the home kit from sky blue to green.<ref name="Shenzhen Phoenix">[http://sports.sohu.com/20110227/n279546061.shtml 长沙金德将更名落户深圳将加紧确定主帅内外援] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716103123/http://sports.sohu.com/20110227/n279546061.shtml |date=2011-07-16 }} at sports.sohu.com. 2011-02-27. Retrieved 2013-06-04. {{in lang|zh}}</ref> By May 2011, the club was exposed as having serious financial problems and were struggling to pay their players and their hotel accommodation.<ref>[http://sports.sina.com.cn/b/2011-05-23/15035589088.shtml 中甲深圳队穷困请球员家属结房费难以维持或退赛] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526094049/http://sports.sina.com.cn/b/2011-05-23/15035589088.shtml |date=2011-05-26 }} at sports.sina.com.cn. 2011-05-23. Retrieved 2013-06-04. {{in lang|zh}}</ref>

=== History in Guangzhou === In serious doubt of completing the 2011 season, Shenzhen Phoenix was put up for sale. The club was bought by Chinese property developers Guangzhou R&F who moved the club to the Yuexiushan Stadium in Guangzhou and changed the club's colours back to blue.<ref name="Guangzhou R&F">[http://sports.sina.com.cn/b/2011-06-25/08575632297.shtml 富力地产低调接手深圳凤凰望学恒大模式入主足球] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015190141/http://sports.sina.com.cn/b/2011-06-25/08575632297.shtml |date=2012-10-15 }} at sports.sina.com.cn. 2011-06-25. Retrieved 2013-06-04. {{in lang|zh}}</ref> Under the new ownership results significantly improved and the club gained promotion back into the top tier at the end of the 2011 China League One season. The team finished the league in seventh, and the club's owners decided to commit their long-term future to the club by establishing a football school in Meizhou.<ref>[http://wildeastfootball.net/2013/05/guangzhou-rf-and-chelsea-fc-open-football-school/ Guangzhou R&F and Chelsea FC open football school] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402154136/http://wildeastfootball.net/2013/05/guangzhou-rf-and-chelsea-fc-open-football-school/ |date=2015-04-02 }} at wildeastfootball.net. May 16, 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-04.</ref> The start of the 2013 Chinese Super League season, however, the club struggled in the league and the manager Sérgio Farias was fired. Former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson was appointed to replace him on June 4, 2013, and given a 19-month contract.<ref>[http://www.thesackrace.com/news/4th-june-2013/sven-goran-eriksson-takes-charge-of-guangzhou-rf Sven Goran Eriksson takes charge of Guangzhou R&F] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101020458/http://www.thesackrace.com/news/4th-june-2013/sven-goran-eriksson-takes-charge-of-guangzhou-rf |date=2013-11-01 }} at thesackrace.com. 4th-june-2013. Retrieved 2013-06-04.</ref> Eriksson's first full season would see the club finish third, its highest league finish, and qualify for the Asian Champions League for the first time. Moroccan striker Abderazzak Hamdallah was a key player for the team, scoring 22 times in 22 appearances. However, manager Eriksson left at the end of his contract and moved to Shanghai SIPG who had finished fifth that year.<ref name=":0" />

On 2 January 2015, the club announced that Cosmin Contra would be their new manager.<ref>{{cite news|title=富力宣布孔特拉下周一正式接手刘殿座确定加盟|url=http://sports.163.com/15/0102/08/AEUJTBN100051C89.html#from=relevant#xwwzy_35_bottomnewskwd|agency=网易新闻|publisher=广州日报|date=4 January 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104152551/http://sports.163.com/15/0102/08/AEUJTBN100051C89.html#from=relevant|archive-date=4 January 2015}}</ref> Contra coached the club in their maiden appearance in the Asian Champions League, coming through the preliminary stages against Warriors FC and Central Coast Mariners to earn a place in the group stage.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/18/central-coast-mariners-guangzhou-rf-report|title=Central Coast fail to qualify for Asian Champions League after playoff defeat|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=2015-02-17|newspaper=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2016-03-12|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313044719/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/18/central-coast-mariners-guangzhou-rf-report|archive-date=2016-03-13}}</ref> However, despite an away victory over Gamba Osaka, Guangzhou R&F were eliminated at the group stage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.co.uk/gamba-osaka/story/2316657/asian-champions-league-wrap-guangzhou-randf-stun-gamba-osaka|title=Guangzhou R&F stun Gamba Osaka in Asian Champions League opener|website=ESPNFC.com|access-date=2016-03-12|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313033514/http://www.espnfc.co.uk/gamba-osaka/story/2316657/asian-champions-league-wrap-guangzhou-randf-stun-gamba-osaka|archive-date=2016-03-13}}</ref> The club's league form was also poor and Contra was sacked on July 22. Li Bing was installed as caretaker manager.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gzrffc.com.cn/index.php?m=Article&a=show&id=834|title=通告-公告|website=gzrffc.com.cn|access-date=2016-03-12|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313050218/http://www.gzrffc.com.cn/index.php?m=Article&a=show&id=834|archive-date=2016-03-13}}</ref> There were more changes as Korean defensive midfielder Park Jong-woo and the injured and unsettled Hamdallah also left the club mid-season. Hamdallah only scored three goals in 2015, making him the club's all-time leading foreign scorer at the time with 25, one ahead of Yakubu. The disruption continued as R&F were forced to play some of their home matches at Guangzhou's University City Stadium whilst Yuexiushan was being refurbished, just as in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wildeastfootball.net/2013/11/guangzhou-rf-2013-season-review-work-in-progress/|title=Guangzhou R&F 2013 Season Review: Work in progress : Wild East Football|website=wildeastfootball.net|access-date=2016-08-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804142004/http://wildeastfootball.net/2013/11/guangzhou-rf-2013-season-review-work-in-progress/|archive-date=2016-08-04}}</ref>

==== The Dragan Stojković era ==== Guangzhou R&F announced Dragan Stojković as their new manager on 24 August 2015 and handed the former Yugoslav international a contract until the end of the 2017 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gzrffc.com.cn/index.php?m=Article&a=show&id=854|title=关于聘请德拉甘·斯托伊科维奇担任广州富力足球俱乐部主教练的公告-公告|website=gzrffc.com.cn|access-date=2016-03-12|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313045606/http://www.gzrffc.com.cn/index.php?m=Article&a=show&id=854|archive-date=2016-03-13}}</ref> Stojković preserved R&F's top flight status as they finished 14th out of 16 teams in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=2015 CSL – Summary |url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/china-pr/csl/2015/regular-season/r30625/ |website=soccerway.com |access-date=1 May 2023}}</ref>

In July 2016, R&F signed Israeli international Eran Zahavi from Maccabi Tel Aviv. Whilst home stadium Yuexiushan was being refurbished, R&F played their opening home games in 2017 at the Guangdong Provincial People's Stadium.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wildeastfootball.net/2017/03/from-the-qing-dynasty-to-collapsing-roofs-and-the-csl-a-history-of-guangzhou-rfs-temporary-home/|title=From the Qing dynasty, to collapsing roofs and the CSL: a history of Guangzhou R&F's temporary home – Wild East Football|website=wildeastfootball.net|access-date=2017-11-05|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521150448/https://wildeastfootball.net/2017/03/from-the-qing-dynasty-to-collapsing-roofs-and-the-csl-a-history-of-guangzhou-rfs-temporary-home/|archive-date=2017-05-21}}</ref> Stojković's attacking style of play and Zahavi's goals led R&F to finish fifth in the CSL in 2017. There was double disappointment on the final day of the season however, as the club fell just short of qualifying for the Champions League and Zahavi missed out on breaking the single season CSL scoring record by just one goal. However, his 27 goals earned him the 2017 golden boot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/china/j/2017-11-04/doc-ifynmzrs7047612.shtml|title=扎球王27球斩金靴有遗憾离埃神纪录就差1个单刀|website=sports.sina.com.cn|access-date=2017-11-05|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107023123/http://sports.sina.com.cn/china/j/2017-11-04/doc-ifynmzrs7047612.shtml|archive-date=2017-11-07}}</ref> Guangzhou R&F reached the semi-finals of the CFA Cup in 2018, but had a disappointing CSL campaign as they finished 10th.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soccerway.com/national/china-pr/csl/2018/regular-season/r44946/|title=CSL 2018 Summary|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref>

Guangzhou R&F finished 12th in the CSL in 2019. In attack, Zahavi's 29 goals set a new single season scoring record,<ref name="staff">{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-zahavi-sets-single-season-scoring-record-in-chinese-soccer/|title=Israel's Zahavi sets single season scoring record for Chinese soccer|last=staff|first=T. O. I.|website=The Times of Israel|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-11}}</ref> but the team had the worst defensive record in the league, conceding 72 goals in 30 games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wildeastfootball.net/2020/01/stojkovic-departs-van-bronckhorst-arrives/|title=Stojković departs, van Bronckhorst arrives at Guangzhou R&F|last=Ross|first=Donald|date=2020-01-04|website=Wild East Football|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-11}}</ref> After spending over four seasons at the club - making him Guangzhou R&F's longest ever serving manager - Stojković left the club in January 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-china-idUKKBN1Z20JC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104204233/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-china-idUKKBN1Z20JC|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 4, 2020|title=Stojkovic leaves Guangzhou by mutual consent|date=2020-01-03|work=Reuters|access-date=2020-01-11|language=en}}</ref>

Giovanni van Bronckhorst was announced as Guangzhou R&F's new manager on 4 January 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-01/04/c_138678033.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112045031/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-01/04/c_138678033.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 12, 2020|title=Van Bronckhorst appointed Guangzhou R&F head coach|website=xinhuanet.com|access-date=2020-01-11}}</ref> The CSL's format was disrupted because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and van Bronckhorst led the team to an 11th-place finish.<ref>{{Cite web|title=中超-陈志钊替补救主富力总分4-3逆转大连获第11|language=zh|url=https://sports.sina.com.cn/china/j/2020-11-10/doc-iiznezxs1090563.shtml|access-date=19 December 2020|website=Sina}}</ref> After a CFA Cup quarter-final loss on penalties, the club announced on 3 December 2020 that van Bronckhorst had resigned as manager for personal reasons.<ref>{{Cite web|title=广州富力官宣范帅离任工作出色带队完成新老交替|language=zh|url=https://sports.sina.com.cn/china/j/2020-12-03/doc-iiznezxs5060022.shtml|access-date=19 December 2020|website=Sina}}</ref>

In accordance with the new national rules on removing sponsors from club names, the club was renamed Guangzhou City in December 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=China's Guangzhou Evergrande changes name to 'Guangzhou football club' |url=https://www.chinadailyhk.com/article/154590 |website=chinadailyhk.com |access-date=1 May 2023 |language=en |date=11 January 2021|quote=Last month, Guangzhou R&F changed its name to "Guangzhou City".}}</ref>

== Name history == *1986–1993: '''Shenyang''' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|沈阳}}) *1994: '''Shenyang Liuyao''' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|沈阳东北六药}})<ref name="China 1994"/> *1995: '''Shenyang Huayang''' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|沈阳华阳}}) *1996–2001: '''Shenyang Sealion''' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|沈阳海狮}}) *2001–2006: '''Shenyang Ginde''' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|沈阳金德}}) *2007–2010: '''Changsha Ginde''' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|长沙金德}}) *2011: '''Shenzhen Phoenix''' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|深圳凤凰}})<ref name="Shenzhen Phoenix"/> *2011–2020: '''Guangzhou R&F''' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|广州富力}})<ref name="Guangzhou R&F"/> *2020–2023: '''Guangzhou City''' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|广州城}})

== Rivalries == {{main|Guangzhou Derbies}} The club took part in the Liaoning Derby, a regional fixture contested against Dalian Football Club and Liaoning FC while the club was located in Shenyang.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wildeastfootball.net/2011/06/a-guide-to-football-in-shenyang/|title=A Guide to Football in Shenyang|publisher=wildeastfootball.net|date=2011-06-15|access-date=2015-09-15|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912172529/http://wildeastfootball.net/2011/06/a-guide-to-football-in-shenyang/|archive-date=2015-09-12}}</ref> The tie against Liaoning FC was the more intimate affair because the clubs shared the Shenyang People's Stadium in the 1994 league season compared to the Dalian fixture, which historically saw few meaningful clashes. At the end of the 2006 league season the club left this derby when they moved out of Shenyang.

When the club moved to, Guangzhou they soon formed a rivalry with Guangzhou Evergrande, which is often referred to as the Canton derby.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wildeastfootball.net/2014/09/yuexiushan-news-canton-derby/|title=Yuexiushan News: Canton Derby|publisher=wildeastfootball.net|date=2014-09-26|access-date=2015-09-15|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909233219/http://wildeastfootball.net/2014/09/yuexiushan-news-canton-derby/|archive-date=2015-09-09}}</ref> The first derby was played at Yuexiushan Stadium in a league match on March 16, 2012, and Guangzhou R&F won 2–0 at home against the reigning league champions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.sohu.com/20120316/n338005769.shtml|title=张烁张远联袂发威富力再爆冷2–0恒大|publisher=sports.sohu.com|date=2012-03-16|access-date=2015-09-15|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119074245/http://sports.sohu.com/20120316/n338005769.shtml|archive-date=2015-11-19}}</ref> The venue was significant because it had been Guangzhou Evergrande's home ground. However, the two club owners, Zhang Li and Xu Jiayin, did not view the derby with hostility and on the return fixture, which R&F won 1–0, they were seen enjoying a meal together instead of watching the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wildeastfootball.net/2012/07/drunken-club-owners-miss-guangzhou-derby/|title=Drunken Club Owners Miss Guangzhou Derby|publisher=wildeastfootball.net|date=2012-07-21|access-date=2015-09-15|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926232111/http://wildeastfootball.net/2012/07/drunken-club-owners-miss-guangzhou-derby/|archive-date=2015-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wildeastfootball.net/2012/07/yak-attack-nicks-guangzhou-derby-for-rf/|title=Yak Attack Nicks Guangzhou Derby for R&F : Wild East Football|website=wildeastfootball.net|access-date=2016-03-12|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221032120/http://wildeastfootball.net/2012/07/yak-attack-nicks-guangzhou-derby-for-rf/|archive-date=2016-02-21}}</ref>

== Managerial history == {{main|List of Guangzhou R&F F.C. managers}} {{updated|7 December 2022}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/guangzhou-r-f/9/|title=Guangzhou R&F " Manager history|publisher=worldfootball.net|access-date=2015-01-09|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110001441/http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/guangzhou-r-f/9/|archive-date=2015-01-10}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=August 2025}}

{{div col|colwidth=35em}} *{{flagicon|Ukraine}} Serhiy Morozov (1994) *{{flagicon|China}} Zhang Zengqun (1995) *{{flagicon|China}} Li Yingfa (1996) *{{flagicon|China}} Li Qiang (1996–98) *{{flagicon|Brazil}} Ademar Braga (1999) *{{flagicon|China}} Li Qiang (1999) *{{flagicon|Russia}} Valery Nepomnyashchy (2000) *{{flagicon|Poland}} Henryk Kasperczak (2000–01) *{{flagicon|France}} Alain Laurier (2001) *{{flagicon|Portugal}} Toni (July 1, 2002 – Dec 31, 2002) *{{flagicon|Serbia and Montenegro}} Dragoslav Stepanović (June 26, 2003 – Dec 31, 2003) *{{flagicon|England}} Bob Houghton (Nov 25, 2005 – June 9, 2006) *{{flagicon|Netherlands}} Martin Koopman (2006) *{{flagicon|Serbia}} Milan Živadinović (2007) *{{flagicon|Serbia}} Slobodan Santrač (Jan 1, 2008 – June 30, 2008) *{{flagicon|China}} Zhu Bo (July 21, 2008 – Oct 12, 2009) *{{flagicon|China}} Hao Wei (Oct 12, 2009 – June 21, 2010) *{{flagicon|Serbia}} Miodrag Ješić (June 21, 2010 – 2010) *{{flagicon|China}} Li Shubin (Feb 27, 2011 – Nov 22, 2011) *{{flagicon|Brazil}} Sérgio Farias (Nov 22, 2011 – May 18, 2013) *{{flagicon|China}} Li Bing ''(Caretaker)'' (May 19, 2013 – June 3, 2013) *{{flagicon|Sweden}} Sven-Göran Eriksson (June 4, 2013 – November 10, 2014) *{{flagicon|Romania}} Cosmin Contra (Jan 4, 2015 – July 22, 2015) *{{flagicon|China}} Li Bing ''(Caretaker)'' (July 22, 2015 – Aug 24, 2015) *{{flagicon|Serbia}} Dragan Stojković a.k.a. Piksi (Aug 24, 2015 – Jan 3, 2020) *{{flagicon|Netherlands}} Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Jan 4, 2020 – Dec 3, 2020) *{{flagicon|Netherlands}} Jean-Paul van Gastel (Jan 31, 2021 – July 24, 2022) *{{flagicon|China}} Zhao Junzhe ''(Caretaker)'' (July 24, 2022 – Aug 29, 2022) *{{flagicon|China}} Li Weifeng (Aug 29, 2022 – Mar 29, 2023) {{div col end}}

== Honours == === League === *'''Jia B Champions'''/'''China League One'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/china-pr/china-league-one/2011/regular-season/r14115/ |title=CHINA LEAGUE ONE – 2011 |publisher=uk.soccerway.com |access-date=2015-11-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625002917/http://int.soccerway.com/national/china-pr/china-league-one/2011/regular-season/r14115/ |archive-date=2015-06-25 }}</ref> **Runners-up (2): 1991, 2011

== Professional club records == ''For Guangzhou R&F in league football as of the end of the 2018 season''

=== Team records ===

*'''Record home victory''': 6–2 v Hangzhou Greentown (2014), 6–2 v Yanbian Funde (2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/guangzhou-rf-vs-yanbian-fude-fc/370118|title=Chinese Super League (Sky Sports)|website=SkySports|language=en|access-date=2018-12-23}}</ref> *'''Record away victory''': 5–1 v Liaoning Whowin FC (2014) * '''Record home defeat''': 2–6 v Tianjin Quanjian (2018) * '''Record away defea'''t: 0–6 v Beijing Guoan (2013) * '''Most cleansheets''': 9 (2014) * '''Fewest cleansheets''': 5 (2012, 2017, 2018)

=== Player records ===

* '''Top domestic goalscorer''': 20, Xiao Zhi * '''Top foreign goalscorer''': 87, Eran Zahavi * '''Youngest domestic goalscorer''': 20 years old (2018) Ma Junliang<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sports.163.com/18/0505/23/DH31UP2700058780.html|title=富力20岁小将:进球因运气好愿不靠新政也可踢比赛|website=Net Ease Sports|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref> * '''Youngest foreign goalscorer''': 19 years old (2014) Aaron Samuel Olanare<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sports.163.com/14/0731/22/A2H0VCDG00051C89.html|title=实录-朴钟佑世界波阿隆首球富力客场5–1灭辽足|date=2014-07-31|website=Net Ease Sports|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref> * '''Most goals in a season''': 29 (2019) Eran Zahavi<ref name="staff"/> * '''Fastest hat-trick''': 10 minutes (2014) Abderazzak Hamdallah<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wildeastfootball.net/2014/03/guangzhou-rf-swamp-hangzhou-greentown/|title=Guangzhou R&F Swamp Hangzhou Greentown|last=Ross|first=Donald|date=2014-03-31|website=Wild East Football|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-12-23}}</ref> * '''Most appearances by a goalkeeper''': 168, Cheng Yuelei * '''Most appearances by an outfield player''': 200, Tang Miao * '''Oldest player''': 35 years, 6 months, 23 days, Zhang Yaokun

== Results == === All-time League rankings ===

''As of the end of 2022 season.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/chinahist.html |title=China League History |date=22 Oct 2009 |access-date=24 January 2014 |url-status=live |website=RSSSF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607124048/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesc/chinahist.html |archive-date=7 June 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sodasoccer.com/search/club/3/5791/E0069B2C301B9794.shtml|title=广州富力|publisher=sodasoccer.com|access-date=24 January 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217223426/http://www.sodasoccer.com/search/club/3/5791/E0069B2C301B9794.shtml|archive-date=17 February 2014}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable" width=100% style=text-align:Center |- !Year !Div !{{Tooltip|Pld|Matches played}} !{{Tooltip|W|Matches won}} !{{Tooltip|D|Matches drawn}} !{{Tooltip|L|Match(es) lost}} !{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}} !{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}} !{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}} !Pts !width=2%|Pos. !width=4%|FA Cup !width=2%|Super Cup !width=2%|League Cup !|AFC !Att./G !Stadium |- | 1986 || bgcolor=#FFFFE0|2 || rowspan="2" | 7 || || || || || || || || 4{{ref| 1| 1}} || DNQ || rowspan="9" | – || rowspan="18" | – || || || |- | 1987 || 3 || || || || || || || || 3{{ref| 1| 1}}{{ref| 2| 2}} || rowspan="3" | {{grey|NH}} || || || |- | 1988 || bgcolor=#D0F0C0|1 || 20 || 4 || 7 || 9 || 17 || 17 || 0 || 19 || bgcolor=#ffcccc|17 || || || |- | 1989 || rowspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFE0" |2 || rowspan="2" | 22 || 5 || 12 || 5 || 20 || 18 || 1 || 27 || 9 || || || |- | 1990 || 6 || 10 || 6 || 19 || 16 || 3 || 28 || 7 || DNQ || || || |- | 1991 || 18 || 8 || 7 || 3 || 23 || 18 || 5 || 19{{ref| 1| 1}} || bgcolor=silver|RU || QF || || || |- | 1992 || bgcolor=#D0F0C0|1 || 14 || 1 || 1 || 12 || 8 || 36 || −28 || 3 || 8{{ref| 3| 3}} || R1 || || || |- | 1993 || bgcolor=#FFFFE0|2 || 5 || 1 || 0/1 || 3 || 5 || 9 || −4 || 2 || 5{{ref| 1| 1}} || rowspan="2" | {{grey|NH}} || || || |- | 1994 || bgcolor=#D0F0C0|1 || rowspan="4" | 22 || 1 || 9 || 12 || 16 || 39 || −23 || 11 || bgcolor=#ffcccc|11 || || 5,591 || rowspan="6" | Shenyang People's Stadium |- | 1995 || rowspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFE0" |2 || 6 || 8 || 8 || 22 || 28 || −6 || 26 || 8 || rowspan="3" | R1 || rowspan="9" | DNQ || || |- | 1996 || 6 || 8 || 8 || 24 || 23 || 1 || 26 || 7 || || |- | 1997 || 9 || 8 || 5 || 37 || 28 || 9 || 35 || bgcolor=#FFA500|3 || || |- | 1998 || rowspan="13" bgcolor="#D0F0C0" |1 || rowspan="4" | 26 || 7 || 10 || 9 || 19 || 28 || −9 || 31 || 10 || R2 || || 15,077 |- | 1999 || 5 || 13 || 8 || 28 || 32 || −4 || 28 || 11 || R1 || || 11,923 |- | 2000 || 8 || 10 || 8 || 35 || 32 || 3 || 34 || 7 || QF || || 35,615 || rowspan="7" | Wulihe Stadium |- | 2001 || 2 || 1 || 23 || 23 || 69 || −46 || 7 || 14{{ref| 4| 4}} || R2 || || 12,000 |- | 2002 || rowspan="2" | 28 || 8 || 10 || 10 || 34 || 34 || 0 || 34 || 11 || R1 || || 14,500 |- | 2003 || 11 || 10 || 7 || 35 || 31 || 4 || 43 || 5 || SF || || 18,857 |- | 2004 || 22 || 7 || 5 || 10 || 23 || 29 || −6 || 26 || 8 || R4 || rowspan="8" | {{grey|NH}} || R1 || || 5,000 |- | 2005 || 26 || 4 || 7 || 15 || 19 || 43 || −24 || 19 || 13{{ref| 4| 4}} || R1 || R1 || || 2,077 |- | 2006 || rowspan="2" | 28 || 6 || 8 || 14 || 22 || 43 || −21 || 26 || 13 || R2 || rowspan="17" | {{grey|NH}}|| || 2,750 |- | 2007 || 8 || 10 || 10 || 17 || 24 || −7 || 34 || 10 || rowspan="4" | {{grey|NH}} || || 10,571 || rowspan="4" | Helong Stadium |- | 2008 || rowspan="3" | 30 || 7 || 13 || 10 || 28 || 36 || −8 || 34 || 11 || || 6,645 |- | 2009 || 6 || 15 || 9 || 23 || 31 || −8 || 33 || 14 || || 8,498 |- | 2010 || 6 || 12 || 12 || 24 || 42 || −18 || 30 || bgcolor=#ffcccc|16 || || 10,152 |- | 2011 || bgcolor=#FFFFE0|2 || 26 || 13 || 8 || 5 || 36 || 27 || 9 || 47 || bgcolor=silver|RU || R2 || || || Dongguan Nancheng Stadium Yuexiushan Stadium |- | 2012 || rowspan="11" bgcolor="#D0F0C0" |1 || rowspan="8" | 30 || 13 || 3 || 14 || 47 || 49 || −2 || 42 || 7 || rowspan="4" | R4 || rowspan="11" | DNQ || || 8,460 || Yuexiushan Stadium Guangzhou HEMC Central Stadium |- | 2013 || 11 || 7 || 12 || 45 || 47 || −2 || 40 || 6 || || 10,384 || rowspan="2" | Yuexiushan Stadium |- | 2014 || 17 || 6 || 7 || 67 || 39 || 28 || 57 || bgcolor=#FFA500|3 || || 11,487 |- | 2015 || 8 || 7 || 15 || 35 || 41 || −6 || 31 || 14 || Group || 7,989 || Yuexiushan Stadium Guangzhou HEMC Central Stadium |- | 2016 || 11 || 7 || 12 || 47 || 50 || −3 || 40 || 6 || SF || || 9,831 || Yuexiushan Stadium |- | 2017 ||15||7||8||59||46||13||52||5|| QF || ||9,904|| Yuexiushan Stadium Guangdong Provincial People's Stadium |- | 2018 || 10 || 6 || 14 || 49 || 61 || −12 || 36 || 10 || SF || || 10,321 || rowspan="5" | Yuexiushan Stadium |- | 2019 ||9 |5 |16 |54 |72 |<nowiki>-18</nowiki> |32 |12 | R4 || || |- | 2020 || 14 || 4 || 3 || 7 || 14 || 28 || −14 || 15 || 11 || QF || || |- | 2021 || 22 || 7 || 8 || 7 || 32 || 31 || 1 || 29 || 7 || R4 || || |- | 2022 || 34 || 6 || 5 || 23 || 32 || 62 || -30 || 23 || 15 || R3 || || |} *{{note|1|1}} in group stage *{{note|2|2}} Liaoning B team promoted to 1 level, but according to CFA rules a club could only enter 1 team in top level so that Senyang replaced Liaoning B's place in 1 level *{{note|3|3}} Joins 1994 Jia-A League as 1992 member *{{note|4|4}} no relegation

Key {{col-begin-small}} {{col-4}} {| style="border: 1px solid #ffffff; background-color: #ffffff" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" |- | bgcolor="#D0F0C0" width="20" | | bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" |  China top division |- | bgcolor="#FFFFE0" width="20" | | bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" |  China second division |- ! bgcolor="#ffffff" width="20" | | bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" |  China third division |- ! bgcolor="#FFD700" width="20" | W | bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" |  Winners |- ! bgcolor="#C0C0C0" width="20" | RU | bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" |  Runners-up |- ! bgcolor="#FFA500" width="20" | 3 | bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" |  Third place |- ! bgcolor="#ffcccc" width="20" | | bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" |  Relegated |} {{col-4}} * Pld = Played * W = Games won * D = Games drawn * L = Games lost * F = Goals for * A = Goals against * Pts = Points * Pos = Final position {{col-4}} * 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 {{col-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 {{col-end}}

=== International results === {{main|Guangzhou City F.C. in Asian football}}Guangzhou City played in the Asian Champions League in 2015. They beat Singaporean side Warriors FC and Australian team Central Coast Mariners in the qualifying rounds but were knocked-out in the group stage.

== R&F (Hong Kong) == {{main|R&F (Hong Kong)}} In August 2016, it was announced that R&F had entered a satellite team into the Hong Kong Premier League. Players registered for the Chinese Super League are ineligible to play in the Hong Kong Premier League, and vice versa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gzrffc.com.cn/index.php?m=Article&a=show&id=1511|title=港超我们来啦！教师节将迎首秀-赛事新闻|website=www.gzrffc.com.cn|access-date=2016-08-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315003724/http://www.gzrffc.com.cn/index.php?m=Article&a=show&id=1511|archive-date=2018-03-15}}</ref> R&F (Hong Kong) played their home matches at the Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground during the first season. The following year, they were permitted to play their home matches at Yanzigang Stadium in Guangzhou under the condition that all away teams' travelling expenses would be covered by R&F.<ref>{{cite web|title=R&F富力擬主場賽事內地上演港超球會提出答允條件|url=https://www.upower.com.hk/article/67566-rf%E5%AF%8C%E5%8A%9B%E6%93%AC%E4%B8%BB%E5%A0%B4%E8%B3%BD%E4%BA%8B%E5%85%A7%E5%9C%B0%E4%B8%8A%E6%BC%94-%E6%B8%AF%E8%B6%85%E7%90%83%E6%9C%83%E6%8F%90%E5%87%BA%E7%AD%94%E5%85%81%E6%A2%9D%E4%BB%B6|website=Upower|access-date=16 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315200014/https://www.upower.com.hk/article/67566-rf%e5%af%8c%e5%8a%9b%e6%93%ac%e4%b8%bb%e5%a0%b4%e8%b3%bd%e4%ba%8b%e5%85%a7%e5%9c%b0%e4%b8%8a%e6%bc%94-%e6%b8%af%e8%b6%85%e7%90%83%e6%9c%83%e6%8f%90%e5%87%ba%e7%ad%94%e5%85%81%e6%a2%9d%e4%bb%b6|archive-date=15 March 2018}} {{in lang|zh-hk}}</ref>

== Past and present internationals == This list contains the present and former international football players playing for Guangzhou City.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/club/13942/2018_2/Guangzhou_R_F.html|title=Guangzhou R&F |publisher=national-football-teams.com}}</ref>

{{col-begin-small}} {{col-2}} ;{{fb|Australia}} *Apostolos Giannou (2016–2017)

;{{fb|China}} *Cheng Yuelei (2012–2023) *Li Jianhua (2013–2015) *Liu Dianzuo (2015–2016) *Han Jiaqi (2019–) *Jiang Ning (2013–2015) *Jiang Zhipeng (2014–2017) *Shi Xiaotian (2007–2014) *Tang Miao (2011–) *Wang Xiaolong (2014–2016) *Wu Weian (2012–2014) *Wu Pingfeng (2013–2014) *Xiao Zhi (2016–2019) *Xu Bo (2004–2014) *Yu Yang (2015–2016) *Zhang Shuo (2011–2015) *Zhang Yaokun (2013–2016) *Zhang Yuan (2012–2015)

;{{fb|DR Congo}} *Jeremy Bokila (2015)

;{{fb|Israel}} *Eran Zahavi (2016–2020) *Dia Saba (2019–2020) {{col-2}} ;{{fb|Hong Kong}} *Tan Chun Lok (2019–)

;{{fb|South Korea}} *Jang Hyun-soo (2014–2017) *Park Jong-woo (2014–2015)

;{{fb|Morocco}} *Abderrazak Hamdallah (2014–2015)

;{{fb|Nigeria}} *Yakubu Ayegbeni (2012–2013) *Aaron Samuel Olanare (2014–2015)

;{{fb|Sweden}} *Gustav Svensson (2016, 2021) {{col-end}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{commons category}} * {{official website|http://www.gzrffc.com.cn}}. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303132244/http://www.gzrffc.com.cn/ |date=2012-03-03 }} {{in lang|zh}}. * [https://globalsportsarchive.com/team/soccer/guangzhou-cheng-fc/1429/ Guangzhou City F.C.] at Global Sports Archive

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guangzhou City F.C.}} Category:Defunct football clubs in China Category:Guangzhou City F.C. Category:Chinese Super League clubs Category:Football clubs in Guangzhou Category:Association football clubs established in 2011 Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2023 Category:2011 establishments in China Category:2023 disestablishments in China Category:Football clubs in Shenyang Category:Football clubs in China Category:Football clubs in Shenzhen Category:Football clubs in Hunan Category:2023 in Guangzhou