Illustration: Liu Xiangya/GT

 TheMK socks expectation of an increased tempo for the domestic football league, tactical changes brought by foreign coaches and how homegrown players may make use of their opportunities are some of the storylines to keep an eye on during the new season of the Chinese Super League (CSL). 

The 2025 season of the CSL will kick off on Saturday, the earliest start date in the history of the league, and run until November 22. This extended schedule aims to better align with international breaks and reduce the strain on athletes, making way for the national team's preparations for the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers. 

A total of 16 clubs will compete for the title in 240 matches over nine months. Eleven out of the 16 teams are managed by foreign coaches. The newly promoted Dalian Yingbo and Yunnan Yukun have expanded the league's coverage and are expected to further boost the market.

Luo Le, a sports scholar at the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, told the Global Times on Wednesday that how to increase the tempo of the CSL remains a key aspect to watch out for in the coming months and the departure of big-name foreign players might bring more opportunities for homegrown talents to capitalize on.

Brazilian midfielder Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Junior, commonly known as Oscar, announced his departure from Shanghai Port in December 2024 after eight illustrious seasons, signaling the end of what many consider the CSL's "golden" era of high-profile international signings. 

The departure of world-class foreign players may affect the competitiveness and influence of the entire league. However, from another perspective, the coaches of each team will no longer rely entirely on these star foreign players, giving domestic players more opportunities, Luo noted.

As for domestic players, they might have more autonomy in their decision-making during matches. In the past, coaches often required the ball to be passed to big-name foreign players, like Oscar, but now foreign players may no longer dominate the game, so domestic players, especially young ones, have more room to showcase their abilities. But the utmost concern is increasing the tempo of the league, which is crucial to enhancing the overall competitiveness of Chinese football on the international stage, said Luo. 

Defending champions Shanghai Port and Shanghai Shenhua remain the title favorites, but their dominance could be challenged by teams like Chengdu Rongcheng and Beijing Guoan.

Despite replacing their attacking trio, which included Oscar, Shanghai Port boasts a balanced squad headed by five-time Chinese Footballer of the Year Wu Lei. Meanwhile, Shanghai Shenhua claimed a victory over their city rival Shanghai Port 3-2 in the season curtain raiser, the 2025 Super Cup, on February 7, underlining their determination to contend the league title. 

It's interesting to see what tactical evolution might take place in Beijing and Zhejiang, as they have each joined hands with renowned Spanish coaches, Liu Yu, a Beijing-based sports commentator told the Global Times. 

Beijing has continued its quest for ball-possession football with the arrival of former Barcelona manager Quique Setien. Setien's football philosophy emphasizes attack and possession-based play, which aligns perfectly with the style of football pursued by Beijing. At the same time, he is also skilled at developing young players, Liu noted. 

Raul Caneda Perez replaced his fellow Spaniard Jordi Vinyals to take the helm at Zhejiang. The 56-year-old, who had worked at the football academy of Real Madrid, has been focusing on shoring up Zhejiang's leaky defense. 

Meanwhile, Yunnan's aggressive recruitment and Dalian's young talent make them intriguing additions to the CSL. Expanding the league's fanbase could result in a rise in match attendance, television viewership, and overall fan engagement. 

Both clubs will definitely have a positive impact on the entire Chinese football market. These two cities both have a strong football atmosphere, especially Dalian, which is a traditional football city, according to Luo.

Yunnan, who will host Beijing for their opening game on Saturday, saw tickets for the match sell out in just 10 minutes after sales started on Monday, according to the club. 

With the expanded schedule set to accommodate the national team's World Cup qualifiers and national youth teams international commitments, fans can look forward to a season full of intense rivalries and the continued development of Chinese football on the international stage.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. [email protected]