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China and Turkey: new football destinations make their mark

By on July 17, 2015

What do Turkey’s top division and China’s Super League have in common? From the ordinary to the hardcore football fan, “nothing” is an acceptable answer. Or at least this was true until recently. Only in the past few years have both leagues seen an influx of household names entering their divisions, particularly this summer. While stars like Andrea Pirlo, Kaka, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, to name but a few, have all headed to the United States’ Major League Soccer, two new destinations have leapt to the forefront from the periphery — Turkey and even more surprisingly, China. Richard Lewis analyzes the goings-on in the Super Leagues of China and Turkey.

Fine and Expensive China!

China does not have a rich history when it comes to football and unlike most household objects, few quality footballers are “Made in China.” This may still be the case, but as China’s domestic game catches up with the nation’s international interest in the beautiful game, many aging stars are joining the Super League.

In particular, Brazilians seem to take a fancy to the league. Former Brazil national team head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who lead them in the 2002 and 2014 World Cups, has now been joined at Guangzou Evergrande by former Manchester City £32.5 million-star (which admittedly looks like nothing now that they have spent £49million on Raheem Sterling!) Robinho. The former Real Madrid star will link up with his former national team boss on a six-month deal after leaving loan-club Santos from a lack of playing time. The 31-year-old will wear the number sixty shirt at his club and be joined by international team-mate Paulinho as well. The 26-year-old Tottenham midfielder moved from Spurs to China for £10 million earlier this summer and has already made two appearances for Guangzhou. Striker Alan is another Brazilian compatriot at the club, who currently sit second in this season’s table, a point behind Beijing Guoan.

Setting the Ba high!

Well-known African stars Demba Ba and Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan, too, will both be plying their trade in the Chinese league later this year. Ba is well known amongst many English supporters from his time with West Ham United, Newcastle United and Chelsea. Steven Gerrard and Liverpool fans won’t soon forget the sight of Ba scoring the goal that marked the beginning of the end of their 2014 Premier League title challenge. Ironically, Ba actually moved from Turkey to China this summer, after ending his one season spell with Besiktas following the departure of manager Slaven Bilic to West Ham. Ba will now play at the same club where Chelsea legend Didier Drogba had a short spell in 2012: Shanghai Shenhua. Former Everton and Australian attacking midfielder Tim Cahill also plays for Shanghai, after moving from the New York Red Bulls in the last winter transfer window.

However, critics have suggested that the players — twenty-nine-year-old Gyan in particular — are motivated by money rather than glory. Gyan spent the prime of his career — after captaining Ghana into the World Cup 2010 quarterfinals — with Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, where he was clearly a big, well-paid fish in a small pond. In four years at Al Ain, he scored ninety-five times in eight-three appearances and won three domestic titles in the process, far too easily it seems. Gyan will now play for Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League, managed by former Manchester City, Notts County, Leicester City and England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Turkish Delight!

Over in Turkey, the big name players have arrived in spades, with Fenerbahce snapping up Robin van Persie and Nani from Manchester United and Galatasaray signing German forward Lukas Podolski from Arsenal for £1.8 million. Only three years ago, Van Persie cost United £24 million from Arsenal and it was a mere two years ago when he lifting the Premier League as golden boot winner. Now, the Netherlands international begins a new challenge in Turkey, where fellow Holland hero Wesley Sneijder plays for Istanbul rivals Galatasaray.

However, these two bigger name sides are not the only clubs making waves this summer in Turkey — former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o joining Antalyaspor from Sampdoria. There were even rumors that the 34-year-old Cameroonian could have been joined at the newly promoted club by some of his former teammates, Ronaldinho and Victor Valdes, only for the former world player of the year Ronaldinho to decide against joining Antalyaspor after ending his time with Mexican side Queretaro. Instead, Ronaldinho joined Brazilian club Fluminense on a year-and-a-half contract while Valdes’ fate remains undecided. Fenerbahce were also linked with a move for Chelsea’s Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel, but it has since become apparent that the defensive midfielder would cost too much to pry away from Stamford Bridge.

Of course, the phrase “retirement league” still frequently pops up and in many cases holds much truth. Not that Turkish or Chinese fans will care.

Photo credit: goatling on Flickr

About Richard Lewis

Richard Lewis can relate almost anything to football and quite often does! You may have seen Richard's previous ideas and work in the BBC Match of the Day Magazine, from 2011 to present. He is a Manchester United and England fan, but has gone to see Leyton Orient play with his O's season ticket in the 2013/14 campaign. Aside from football, Richard has written articles on Doctor Who and studies English Language and Linguistics at the University of Westminster. Aspiring sports journalist.