China: Clubs Ranked - 1987 to 2023

Football has history here but it was in 1987 that a semi professional Jia-A League started. It went fully pro in 1994 and then was named the Super League in 2004.

To the right is a list of the top clubs since 1987. Chn is points awarded in China and Tot when adding Asia. 

Points are earned in the first division league 6,3,2 and 1. The FA Cup 4 and 2 for the finalists. Success in the Asia Club Championship 8,4 and 2. 

The top Super League /  Jia-A League clubs are listed the the left. The points are close as clubs were formed and disbanded so few have a long history to get a lead on the others. 

Recent winners are Jiangsu FC in 2020,  Shandong Taishan 2021, Wuhan Three Towns 2022 and Shanghai Port FC in 2023. 

The FA Cup started in 1995 and wasn't held between 2007 and 2010 so that's 25 times held. Shandong Taishan has been clearly the most successful. It won the cup three times from 2020 to 2022 but lost the final to Shanghai Shenhua in 2023.

The Asia Club Championship has been quite successful for Clubs in China. Between them they have won it three times, twice losing finalists and nine times semi finalists. 

All put together, the clubs are below. The grand total is shown for each club, divided into regions with a ranking number (Rk) which gives their place compared to all the other clubs. Any suggestions? Please leave a comment. 

Football in China hasn't been without incident. A major problem is often linked to payoffs to players and match officials to benefit gambling syndicates. In 2003, there was no winner of the league competition when the top side was stripped of its title. Hopefully, it has been stamped out thanks to strict action taken against those caught. 

I don't know much about regions in China but the clubs listed are divided into East which took 239 points (37.8%), North East (25.6%), South Central (19.9%), North (15.0%) and South West (1.6%). 

The clubs with a + after their name are no longer active, fourteen in all! Some without that symbol have not been active through the full period since 1987. The East looks to be the dominant area in the immediate future. 

USA Clubs Ranked - 2013-23 (Women)

I had the impression that the USA was the epicentre of women's soccer. Europe has some strong leagues as well of course. Still, that was the perception and the fact that the USA is the most successful country in the World Cup competition reinforced that notion.

However, the USA had a poor WC in 2023, second in its group and out in the first playoff round. I took it as a blip but looking into the club scene in the US has now got me wondering. 

The table below rewards top clubs making the top four in the elite league (National Women's Soccer league) from its inception in 2013 and NWSL Challenge Cup since 2020. For the history of women's soccer in the US, the time period I've covered is just scratching the surface.

The problem is that before that, clubs came and went like a morning mist. That's the conclusion I reached. The lack of stability made a club comparison a long list with little meaning. At least since 2013 there has been more settled.

The most successful club is the North Carolina Courage and they started in 2017. Prior to that they were the West New York Flash that relocated to NC. I have kept them separate below but if combined, totally dominant. 

FC Kansas City dropped out in 2018. The Houston Dash arrived in 2014, the Orlando Pride 2015 with both the Kansas City Currant and San Diego Wave entering in 2022. So even now, with new teams joining and a few dropping out, it has the feel of a league that is establishing itself. If anyone can add to my conclusion or state why it's not as I'm seeing it, leave a comment below. Registering not a requirement to do so. 

As for regions, the US always has to deal with the tyranny of distance. The east of the country is where most clubs are based with over half the points going there. 

England Clubs Ranked - 1991/92 to 2023/24 (Women)

Because the women's game has been amateur for some years and only recently have things progressed, it's the most recent history that is more like the men's setup. Some of the earlier club's names sounded very small in scope which reflected the reality of their situation.

Professionalism really started in the 2011 season with the WFA Super League but I started in 1991/92 when its predecessor the FA Women's National League commenced. The chart to the right shows points accrued in England under 'Eng' and 'Tot'  includes European competition. Chelsea is the team at the moment but historically Arsenal is Ms Consistency. 

Points are earned this way: For the WFA National League (Division 1) the top four are rewarded with 6, 3, 2 and 1. In the FA Cup, 4 and 2 for the finalists, the FAW League Cup 3 and 1. The European Champions League it's 8, 4 and 2 points. 

The WFA league is no surprise with Arsenal WFC well ahead. Between 2000/01 and 2012 it won 11 out of the 12 titles. Trying to emulate that feat is Chelsea FCW has won eight out of ten from 2015 to 2023/24. In between that Liverpool FCW won 2013 and 2014. Doncaster Rovers were strong from 1991/92 to 2006/07 but little since. Charlton Athletic was of a similar timeframe. 

The FA Cup goes way back to the 1970/71 season but we start twenty one years later. Interestingly, Arsenal haven't won this since 2016. Chelsea have won four times since then, Manchester City twice and Manchester United once and are the current holders. 

The League Cup was first held in the 1991/92 season when this summary starts. It could be known as the Arsenal Cup. In the 32 years it has been contested, Arsenal have been in 23 finals and won 17 of those. Chelsea have been in the last five finals, winning twice. 

Finally Europe. The European Champions League was first held in 2001/02 season but clubs in England haven't been that successful. Arsenal won it in 2007 but that is the only final appearance for any of the clubs. 

All put together, the clubs are below. The grand total is shown for each club, divided into regions with a ranking number (Rk) which gives their place compared to all the other clubs. Any suggestions? Please leave a comment. 

For the men the North West is strongest but for the women, it's definitely London with 63.9% of the points. The NW does come in next but a distant second with 19.9%. The NE (10.4%), Midlands (3.3%) and the South (2.5%) are well back with no sides doing well presently.