The 2021 Dalian Professional F.C. season was the 12th season in club history. The team relegated to China League One once again after this season.
Overview Preseason Dalian Pro regrouped on 18 January for winter training at the team base. The original training plan was to train in Guangzhou, but could not be carried on as the manager yet decided to return.
The 2021 CSL saw growing pressure from three aspects. Firstly, strong COVID-prevention policies remained active, that foreign players and staff had to follow quarantine rules when entering or re-entering the border, and that teams would be concentrated into one or more cities for an enclosed, COVID-safe league. Secondly, teams participating the 2021 CSL must have neutral club names, which resulted in far less sponsorship income. Strict salary limitation was also adopted in this season. Although Dalian Pro had already switched to neutral name in the previous season, the team was still vulnerable against other policies, as football stars and manager decided to leave. On 23 January, Benitez announced through his personal website that he had parted ways with Dalian Pro. On 15 February, Rondon was loaned to CSKA Moscow until the end of the 2020-21 RPL season. On 9 March, Hamsik signed with IFK Göteborg.
Dalian Pro had a short break for the Spring Festival, and regrouped on 16 February. Since February, the team stayed in Dalian for training and friendly matches with nearby teams, Liaoning football team for the 2021 National Games of China and Shenyang Urban. The team would move to Guangzhou on 23 March for further friendly matches against other CSL teams.
On 1 April, the 2021 CSL fixtures and details were confirmed and published. League would be divided to 3 phases. Phase 1 begins from 20 April until 17 May, then pause to prepare for the World Cup Qualification. P2 would be from 21 June to 5 August, and P3 from 24 October to 1 December.
April–May The squad and manager of Dalian Pro was officially made public on 18 April, although sources had already reported the major changes. The team arrived in Suzhou the same day. As of April, Danielson was the only foreign player in squad, although the team registered all of them. Boateng did not return in time due to visa issues after his national team matches. Jailson, like a few other Brazilian players, had difficulties acquiring visas due to the pandemic situation in Brazil. Swedish media reported rumors between Larsson and IFK Göteborg, but he later clarified personally that he was affected by COVID-19, and was unable to return to China at the time.
The team struggled with single foreign player Danielson, and saw their first win on 11 May against Tianjin with his precious subsequent shot during a corner.
Interval 1 Boateng finally arrived in China in June. He would join the team in July after quarantine.
Stage 2 matches were due to begin on 22 June after the World Cup qualification second round. As the matches were unexpectedly rearranged to the Emirates instead of China due to multiple reasons, the league reached a consensus to postpone the schedule, as national players had to follow quarantine rules after travelling abroad.
In July, the fixtures were revised and shortened to 22 rounds. The 2021 CSL would finish its Stage 1 on 12 August, then enter an unprecedented 4-month sacrificial pause for the World Cup qualification third round, and conduct its Stage 2 from 1 December until January 2022.
July–September Although it was widely believed that Rondon would leave after he returned from loan, Dalian Pro surprisingly registered for him before the summer transfer window closed. Nevertheless, he rejoined Benitez at Everton right before the summer window closed.
The team kept struggling at the bottom of the group. Although Lin Liangming emerged as the best scorer in squad, and Danielson returned from the UEFA Euro on time, the team still suffered from lack of foreign players, and entered the relegation group without much surprise. The only good news was that, Larsson, after a few months of recovery, gained access for travelling back to China.
Interval 2 Wang Jinxian's goal against China U-20 in the FA cup was recognized as the club's 500th goal in history.
Lin Liangming had a rib fracture during the training, causing him to miss the rest of the season.
December, season ending Larsson scored a free kick in the first match upon his returning, making a good start for the team in the relegation group. In the following matches, multiple players suffered from injuries, and Dalian Pro fell behind to 15th after 3 consecutive losses. Although Dalian achieved the biggest win this season by 4–1 against Qingdao, they still finished the season at 15th, and eventually beaten by Chengdu Rongcheng in the relegation playoff.
Summary
Dalian Pro struggled throughout this season due to a lineup too thin to withstand fragmented but intense schedules.
During the first stage, Danilson was the only foreign player in squad. Shan Huanhuan's contribution was not enough for the team's offensive side, resulting only 2 wins out of the total 14. Boateng returned in June, but his support could not make much difference. On the other hand, Lin Liangming's performance was beyond expectation, scoring 5 goals out of total 12. However, he suffered from rib fracture before the second stage, while led to further troubles for Dalian Pro.
As the second stage draws near, Dalian Pro could finally come up with 3 starting foreign players, despite the fact that most CSL teams have another for substitution. In the first 4 matches, the team acquired 3 victories by better stamina and spirit than the opponents, that most media believed that Dalian Pro could flee from relegation zone. Desperate time came when intense schedule brought injuries to starting players. Dong Yanfeng, Danielson, Wu Wei and Boateng all had muscle issues, and in the next 3 matches, Dalian Pro was lagged back into the relegation area, and eventually lost in the relegation playoffs.
Squad First team squad
No.NameNat.Place of birthDate of birth (age)JoinedFromNoteGoalkeepers1Zhang Chong Dalian2013Dalian Shide12Xu Jiamin Shanghai2020Beijing Renhe32Kudirat Ablet Yining2021 Gondomar36Wang Jinshuai Dalian2021Dalian Pro youthDefenders3Shan Pengfei Dalian2012Dalian Yifang youth4Li ShuaiShenyang2016 Mafra11Sun Guowen Dalian2013Dalian Shide13Wang Yaopeng Dalian2014Liaoning youth14Huang Jiahui Bozhou2019Dalian Yifang youth16Tong Lei Quzhou2020Zhejiang Greentown18He Yupeng Anshan2019Dalian Yifang youth22Dong Yanfeng Dalian2016Liaoning youth30Marcus Danielson Eskistuna2020 Djurgårdens IF33Wang Xianjun Dalian2020Dalian Pro youth35Wan Yu HezeMid 2021Dalian Pro youth37Yang Haoyu Kunming2020Hubei Chufeng UnitedMidfielders5Wu Wei Xinxiang2020Tianjin Tianhai7Zhao XuriC Dalian2019Tianjin Quanjian10Sam Larsson Gothenburg2020 Feyenoord20Wang Jinxian Wuhan2014Dalian Yifang youth24Tao Qianglong Fuyang2020Hebei China Fortune25Jailson Siqueira Caçapava do Sul2020 Fenerbahçe26Cui Ming'an Dalian2014Dalian Yifang youth28Lin Liangming Shantou2020 Gondomar29Sun Bo Dalian2011Shandong Luneng youth31Zheng LongVC Qingdao2019Guangzhou Evergrande34Wang Zhen'ao Wuhan2020Dalian Pro youth39Wang Tengda Dalian2020Dalian Pro youth40Zhu Jiaxuan Dalian2020Dalian Pro youth66Wang Yu DalianMid 2021Dalian Pro youthForwards9Shan Huanhuan Pingdingshan2019 Vitória Guimarães B15Zhao Jianbo Dalian2020Dalian Pro youth21Emmanuel Boateng Accra2019 LevanteUn-registered during the season2Yang Lei Handan2021Dalian Pro youthReserved17Zhang Jiansheng Xingtai2020Dalian Pro youthLoaned out23Li Xuebo Dalian2019 Atlético Madrid BLoaned out27Yang Pengju Guiyang2020Dalian Pro youthLoaned out38Kong Yinquan Guangzhou2021Dalian Pro youthReserved
Coaching staff
PositionNameNotesFirst teamHead coach José GonzálezAssistant coach Alfonso CortijoGoalkeeping coach Jorge BartualMedical advisor Song JinhuaPhysiotherapist Javier SagasteTeam doctor Jia ShunhaoTeam doctor Alberto Fernández MoránTechnical coach Jiang ZongyanReserve and youth teamsReserve (U-23) coach David Rivas MartínezU-21 coach Liu YujianU-21 assistant coach Zhou TingU-19 coach Sun WeiU-17 coach Zhang YaokunU-17 assistant coach Zou PengU-17 assistant coach Li WenboU-15 coach Zhao PengU-15 assistant coach Chi YaojunU-14 coach Li YangU-15 assistant coach Zou JieU-13 coach Wang Zhaochen
Transfers Pre-season In Name Age Moving from Type Transfer feeDate Notes -GK Kudirat Ablet24 Gondomar Transfer9 March 2021 -DF Yang Haoyu21 Hubei Istar Loan— -MF Liu Yingchen28 Beijing RenheLoan Return
Out NameAgeMoving toTypeTransfer feeDateNotes -DF Zhou Ting42—Retired——Announced in 202037MF Yang Haoyu21 Hubei IstarEnd of loan—12 December 20209FW Salomón Rondón31 CSKA MoscowLoan15 February 202117MF Marek Hamšík33 IFK GöteborgReleased9 March 202125DF Li Jianbin31 Chengdu RongchengTransferFree33FW Zhao Xuebin28 Cangzhou Mighty LionsTransferFree -FW Alex Akande32 KitcheeTransferFree30 March 2021 -MF Han Peijiang21 Xi'an WolvesLoan—3 April 20218DF Zhu Ting35 QingdaoTransferFree9 April 2021 -DF Hu Jiali22 QingdaoTransferFree9 April 202119GK Xue Qinghao21 Shanghai ShenhuaTransferFree12 April 202127DF Cheng Hui22—Released36DF Zhou Xiao24—Released -DF Yang Zexiang26 Shanghai ShenhuaTransfer -MF Li Qinghao22 Jiangxi BeidamenTransfer -MF Zheng Bofan26 KunshanLoan -MF Liu Yingchen28 Xi'an WolvesLoan
Mid-season In NameAgeMoving fromTypeTransfer feeDateNotes19FW Salomón Rondón31 CSKA MoscowLoan return18 May -MF Zheng Bofan26 KunshanLoan Return -MF Liu Yingchen28 Xi'an WolvesLoan Return
Out NameAgeMoving toTypeTransfer feeDateNotes17FW Zhang Jiansheng20 Beijing BSULoan—10 July27DF Yang Pengju20 Beijing BSULoan—10 July23GK Li Xuebo21 Zibo CujuLoan—10 July19FW Salomón Rondón31 EvertonTransferFree31 August -MF Zheng Bofan26 Beijing BSULoan -MF Liu Yingchen28 Dandong TengyueLoan -MF Cheng Xianfeng20 KunshanTransfer
Friendlies Preseason
Interval 1
Interval 2
Chinese Super League
Stage 1 – group B (Suzhou Stadia)
Group B standings
Results summary
Positions by round
Fixtures and results
Stage 2 – relegation group
Relegation group standings
Results summary
Positions by round
Fixtures and results
Relegation playoff
Chinese FA Cup
FA Cup fixtures and results
Quarter finals
Squad statistics
Appearances and goals PlayerSuper LeagueFA CupSeason TotalPlayoffStartsGoalsStartsGoalsStartsGoalsStartsGoals1GKZhang Chong19190000191902202DFYang Lei0000000000003DFShan Pengfei12120110131300004DFLi Shuai16150000161502205MFWu Wei17160331201910007MFZhao Xuri18131110191412209FWShan Huanhuan15823201710222010MFSam Larsson86300086322011DFSun Guowen201803302321011112GKXu Jiamin33021054000013DFWang Yaopeng121102201413010014DFHuang Jiahui1171420159122015FWZhao Jianbo860420128010016DFTong Lei191804202320022017FWZhang Jiansheng00000000000018DFHe Yupeng1040210125000020MFWang Jinxian630411104121021FWEmmanuel Boateng1374000137400022DFDong Yanfeng191904402323022023GKLi Xuebo00000000000024FWTao Qianglong14724311810322025MFJailson Siqueira00000000000026MFCui Ming'an181104202213010027MFYang Pengju00000000000028MFLin Liangming131153211613600029MFSun Bo1000000100000030DFMarcus Danielson101020001010222031MFZheng Long15913301812100032GKKudirat Ablet00033033000033DFWang Xianjun41032073000034MFWang Zhen'ao1180210139000036GKWang Jinshuai00000000000037DFYang Haoyu30011041000038MFKong Yinquan00000000000039MFWang Tengda00010010000040MFZhu Jiaxuan50011061000062DFWan Yu00011011000066MFWang Yu200100300000TOTALS214251
Goalscorers RankPlayerSuper LeagueFA CupSeason TotalPlayoff1Lin Liangming51602Emmanuel Boateng4 (2)0403Sam Larsson3030Tao Qianglong21305Marcus Danielson2 (1)020Shan Huanhuan20207Huang Jiahui1010Wang Jinxian0110Wu Wei0110Zhao Xuri1010Zheng Long1010Sun Guowen0001TOTALS214251
Disciplinary record