2013 was also the year of the Guangzhou Evergrande club, which made history for Chinese soccer. The Super League club, led by an Italian had sealed the domestic league a major Champion title of soccer, a sport that has the largest fan group but few moments to be proud of in China.

Players of Guangzhou Evergrande celebrate with the trophy after the 2013 AFC Champions League final between Guangzhou Evergrande and FC Seoul in Guangzhou, China, on Nov. 9, 2013. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, and Guangzhou Evergrande won the AFC Champions League. [Xinhua]

In 2013, Evergrande certainly put Chinese football well and truly on the map. Guangzhou ended the country's long wait for an Asian title in style, winning the Champions League.

Evergrande also defended the Chinese Super League title with five rounds to spare. But Lippi's men weren't done yet - becoming the first Chinese club to compete in the Club World Cup, and beating the African Champions Al Ahly 2-0 in the first game, before losing in the semi-finals to the mighty Bayern Munich.

With a cup double, Guangzhou had the perfect 2013, and showed, what was possible for other Chinese sides.

"…Winning the Asian Champions League is not for the team itself, but for the whole country, which have been waiting for so long to show off their football to the world…" Football fan said.

And Evergrande are also focussing on the future. This academy, opened earlier this year at the club, could well breed the next Chinese sensation.

" We focus on youth training, because we think youth are the future for Chinese football, to get long term development. We're doing well in this, and I think we're on the right path." Casiano Delvalle, youth coach of Beijing Baxy Football Club, said.

Guangzhou hve certainly been making all the headlines over the past season, but to transfer that success to Chinese football as a whole, there's still a long way to go.

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