Short name SUFC | Ground Capacity 16,000 Founded 2001 | |
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Dissolved 8 February 2007; 10 years ago (8 February 2007)Merged with Shanghai Shenhua | ||
Shanghai United F.C (Simplified Chinese: 上海联城足球俱乐部) was a Chinese professional football club based in Shanghai, who last played in the 16,000 seater Yuanshen Sports Centre Stadium in the Chinese Super League. The club was founded by Dalian Shide F.C. on 1 February 2000 and was originally known as Dalian Sidelong. The club was initially used as youth team who were allowed to compete in the Chinese football league pyramid until the club was eventually sold to businessman Zhu Jun, the owner of China's second-largest online gaming company The9 in 2005. He moved the club to Shanghai until 2007 when he bought a majority share of inner-city rivals Shanghai Shenhua, thus began to merge the two clubs. Shanghai United no longer exists in name and is replaced by Shanghai Shenhua.
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History
In 2004, the team was based in Zhuhai and played in the Chinese Football Association Jia League. When they won promotion to the Super League, their new owners, Shanghai Zhongbang Real Estate Co moved the team from Guangdong province to Shanghai.
In 2005, they were bought by Shanghai Liancheng and renamed Shanghai Liancheng Zobon (上海联城中邦足球俱乐部). However, in April, the team was again renamed to Shanghai United FC.
In 2007, Zhu Jun bought a majority share in the in-city rival Shanghai Shenhua, thus began to merge the two clubs. Shanghai United no longer exists in name and is replaced by Shanghai Shenhua. The new Shenhua team combines players from the two original teams. Due to the merger, there are only 15 teams in the CSL.
Name history
Shanghai Zobon (上海中邦)