Wuhan Three Towns F.C.

Wuhan Three Towns Football Club () is a Chinese professional football club based in Wuhan, Hubei, that competes in . Wuhan Three Towns plays its home matches at the Wuhan Sports Center, located within Caidian District. Wuhan Three Towns had remarkably gone from playing in the fourth division of Chinese football, to winning the 2022 Chinese Super League in a matter of five years, and had won the league title for each of the top three divisions on its climb up the pyramid.

History

Early history

The club was established as Wuhan Shangwen (Simplified Chinese: 武汉尚文) in 2013 by the Wuhan Football Association and private investment from the Wuhan Benhui Group, to mainly focus on the development of youth players. In 2018, the club started to participate in the Wuhan Super League, and finished second right behind Wuhan Chufeng Heli. They also participated in the 2018 Chinese Champions League, and made it to the final round of 16 before being eliminated by Nanjing Shaye.

Road to winning the Super League

Ranking 11th in the 2018 Chinese Champions League, the club was later admitted into 2019 China League Two to fill the gap left by a withdrawn team, right after changing their name to Wuhan Three Towns F.C. in January 2019.

Albert Garcia Xicota would be appointed head coach of the club for the 2019 China League Two season and finished eleventh at the end of the season. The following campaign with the club, he would go on to guide them in winning the division title and promotion into the second tier. In July 2021, Pedro Morilla was appointed as caretaker manager of the club; he had previously worked as techniques director. In December 2021, he was promoted to manager for winning 14 matches in a row. This achievement would see Wuhan going on to win the 2021 China League One division and promotion to the top tier.

On 31 December 2022, Wuhan Three Towns won the 2022 Chinese Super League for the first time after several fixtures were cancelled due to a national COVID-19 outbreak. They were awarded a 3–0 win against Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, who had forfeited due to sick players, and had a better goal difference than Shandong Taishan to top the table.

On 17 June 2023, Morilla stepped down from his role after only 3 wins from the first 12 league games of the season. Japanese coach Tsutomu Takahata was appointed as his successor on the following day.

On 28 August 2023, the club's investors announced their intention to withdraw funding from the team, as well as selling it for free.

AFC Champions League debut

Wuhan Three Towns finished as league champions in the 2022 Chinese Super League season saw them qualified for the 2023–24 AFC Champions League group stage for the first time in the club history. They are drawn in group J with Urawa Red Diamonds, Pohang Steelers and Vietnamese club, Hanoi FC. On 20 September 2023, Wuhan Three Towns played their first ever AFC Champions League match against the defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds, which ended in a 2–2 draw at home.

Name history

*2013–2018 Wuhan Shangwen F.C. 武汉尚文
*2019–present Wuhan Three Towns F.C. 武汉三镇

Current squad

First team

(on loan from Shanghai Port)

B-team squad

Out on loan

Coaching staff

Managerial history

* Zeng Qinggao (2018)
* Albert Garcia Xicota (2019–2021)
* Pedro Morilla (2021) (caretaker)
* Pedro Morilla (2021–2023)
* Tsutomu Takahata (2023)
* Ricardo Rodríguez (2024)
* Filipe Martins (2025)
* Deng Zhuoxiang (2025-)

Notable players

The following players had international caps for their respective countries.

Africa
* Romário Baldé

Latin America
* Ademilson
* Wallace

Asia
* Liu Dianzuo
* Jiang Zhipeng
* Deng Hanwen
* Ren Hang
* Xie Pengfei
* Wei Shihao
* Rong Hao
* Gao Zhunyi
* Yaki Yen
* Park Ji-soo

Europe
* Nicolae Stanciu

Honours

League
*Chinese Super League
**Champions (1): 2022
*China League One
**Champions (1): 2021
*China League Two
**Champions (1): 2020

Cup
*Chinese FA Super Cup
**Champions (1): 2023

Results

All-time league rankings

''As of the end of 2023 season.''

* In group stage.

Key

* Pld = Played
* W = Games won
* D = Games drawn
* L = Games lost
* F = Goals for
* A = Goals against
* Pts = Points
* Pos = Final position

* DNQ = Did not qualify
* DNE = Did not enter
* NH = Not Held
* WD = Withdrawal
* – = Does Not Exist
* R1 = Round 1
* R2 = Round 2
* R3 = Round 3
* R4 = Round 4

* F = Final
* SF = Semi-finals
* QF = Quarter-finals
* R16 = Round of 16
* Group = Group stage
* GS2 = Second Group stage
* QR1 = First Qualifying Round
* QR2 = Second Qualifying Round
* QR3 = Third Qualifying Round

Continental results

Affiliated clubs

* Shonan Bellmare (2022–present)

References

{{Chinese Super League

Wuhan Three Towns F.C.
Football clubs in China
Association football clubs established in 2013
Sport in Wuhan
2013 establishments in China
Football clubs in Wuhan
Chinese Super League clubs
China League One clubs
China League Two clubs
Chinese Champions League clubs