"happy Birthday!"
On February 16, many fans left birthday wishes in the comment section of Tianjin Jinmenhu Weibo.
Tianjin Jinmenhu's official Weibo was disconnected after January 20.
That was an announcement made by the club on January 20: "From now on, Tianjin TEDA will officially change its name to Tianjin Jinmen Tiger."
But for more than two months since then, Jinmen Huguanbo has been in silence.
During this period, the Tianjin Tianhai official blog, which was disbanded next door, had a brief history of "deception".
Screenshot of Tianjin Tianhai official blog
In the comment area of the Tianjin TEDA renaming announcement, the birthday wishes from the fans were once washed away.
Pages of comments, like a timeline, clearly and cruelly record the psychological changes of Tianjin fans over the past three months.
Screenshot of Tianjin Jinmen Tiger's official Weibo comment
New Year’s Eve, the 23rd anniversary of the TEDA Group’s home team, the next-door Chinese Super League’s defending champion "officially announced" the suspension of the operations of their respective teams... At these important nodes, Tianjin Jinmen Tigers is extremely quiet.
This silent way seems to herald the fate of this 65-year-old club.
For the "possible death fate" of Tianjin Jinmen Tigers, the fans had already prepared their psychological expectations.
No matter how quiet the club officials are, they can't cover up the surging waves from outside.
On the evening of February 2, Rong Hao, Liu Yang, Zheng Kaimu, and Park Taoyu, who played for the Jinmen Tigers last season, also spoke on their personal social platforms, begging all walks of life to help this time-honored Chinese football player survive the difficulties and stay in the Super League.
Player Rong Hao asked for help for Tianjin Jinmen Tiger on his personal social media platform.
The news about the team's salary arrears and disbandment is also rampant.
Last season, Suarez, the team's relegation hero, repeatedly complained in interviews with foreign media that he had not received his salary after joining the Jinmen Tigers in October last year.
His old club Porto also did not receive the transfer fee from the Tianjin Tigers.
Before the start of the relegation stage last season, Tianjin Jinmenhu introduced foreign forward Suarez.
Another forward foreign aid Lima has left the team early. Achim Peng and Ahmedov, two very practical foreign aids, have long been targeted by many domestic teams. Everything is ready, just waiting for the tigers. Disbandment will be visa-free.
As for domestic players, Zhao Honglue, who is relatively strong, has joined the Wuhan team, Du Jia has joined Shanghai Haigang, and other players have been reported to join other Super League teams from time to time.
Zhao Honglue transferred to the Wuhan team.
Image source: Wuhan Zall Football Club's official Weibo
The hour hand came to February 28, and the Chinese Super League's new season admission entered the deadline.
As people expected, the Chinese football scene on this day is indeed not peaceful, but the first to break the calm is not the Tianjin Jinmen Tigers who are rumored to be in a state of "extubation", but the defending champions of the Chinese Super League Jiangsu team.
In the Jiangsu team's announcement, although a relatively euphemistic expression such as "stop operations" was used, the reality is a cruel wait for death.
Announcement on the suspension of operations of the Jiangsu team.
Image source: Official Weibo of Jiangsu Football Club
At the end of life and death, Tianjin fans can't sit still seeing the "latecomers" have entered the abyss.
"You are saying something!"
"still there?"
"Are you going to say goodbye to you... my youth."
...
Screenshot of Tianjin Jinmen Tiger's official Weibo fan comments.
But these voices still did not respond in exchange.
The TEDA football stadium, 50 kilometers away from downtown Tianjin, has also become a message wall for fans: "Looking forward to returning", "I will always love TEDA", "Everything will be fine", "2021, waiting for you".
A new message was added to the glass facade of the TEDA football stadium, and the fans bid farewell to tears.
Image source: IC photo
That is the stadium that brought countless fond memories to Tianjin fans: the opening ceremony of the first year of the 2004 Chinese Super League, the first in the AFC Champions League in the 2008 season, and the second runner-up in the Chinese Super League in the 2010 season, setting the best result in team history and the first time in the history of the 2011 season. Qualified in the group stage...
However, this beauty seems to have changed a bit in the 2012 season.
In the middle of the season, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger moved into the Water Drop Stadium.
Although it is closer to the city, in this "new home", the team's performance has been declining, from the middle of the league to frequent relegation.
They were also eclipsed when their city rival Tianjin Quanjian played Jinyuan football.
In the 60,000-seat comprehensive stadium, the stands of the Jinmen Tigers match day are deserted.
Tianjin Jinmen Tigers home stadium-aerial view of Tianjin Olympic Sports Center Stadium.
Xinhua News Agency reporter Yue Yuewei photo Source: Xinhuanet
But there are no shortage of fans who speak Tianjin dialect, cheering or cursing, or discussing tactics with fans who they know or don’t know. There are also father and son watching together, or even three generations of grandchildren.
Even if the home team is down, they are still holding on.
In the 2019 season, the giant TIFO at home made by Tianjin Jinmen Tigers fans is a symbol of inheritance.
Fortunately, their persistence brought good results.
After the league admission list that was originally scheduled to be announced on March 23 was late again, news of the "resurrection" of the Jinmen Tigers continued to be heard.
Until the official announcement on the 29th, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, the new name, appeared on the admission list as hoped.
Tianjin Jinmen Tiger passed the access.
Screenshot of the official website of the Football Association
From great sadness to great joy, many fans left a message under the announcement of the change of name immediately after the announcement of the admission list of the Football Association, even if the team still remained silent...
Tianjin Jinmen Tiger Weibo comment area is back to life.
From winter to spring, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, who has been silent, staged a drama of extreme reversal.
Perhaps, the resurrection of Tianjin Jinmen Tigers can slightly wash away the sorrow that another 6 professional teams are dying.
But more, it may still be numb.
In the slightly magical Chinese football, in front of the club’s life and death, fans seem to be able to do something, but they also seem to be powerless.
Compared with the fans of the defending champions of the Chinese Super League Jiangsu team, the Tianjin fans are happy at this moment.
I hope that after coming back to life, Tianjin Jinmen Tigers can change their way of living.
(Author Bian Liqun)