Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
How they qualified: Runners-up - China Super League 2011
Established 1992
Nickname Yulinjun (Imperial guards)
Home stadium Workers' Stadium (61,000)
Website www.gaf.citic.com
Club Honours
Chinese Super League champions 1 - 2009
Chinese FA Cup winners 3 - 1996, 97, 2003
Previous ACL appearances
2008 - Group stage
2009 - Group stage
2010 - Round of 16
After missing the competition last year, Beijing Guoan are back for their fourth crack at the AFC Champions League in five seasons.
The team from the Chinese capital have been one of the most consistent in the Chinese Super League over the past six seasons, never finishing outside the top-five, taking the runners-up spot twice and winning the first ever league title in 2009.
While they have been regular participants in the continent's biggest club competition in recent years, Beijing have yet to set the tournament alight. They went out during the group stage in 2008 and 2009 and bowed out tamely in the round of 16 two years ago after a 2-0 loss to Suwon Bluewings.
Following a disappointing fifth-place finish in 2010, which cost them a spot in last year's AFC Champions League, Jamie Pacheco was hired as Beijing's head coach and the former Portugal international midfielder guided them through a solid campaign which saw them finish second in the league, albeit 15 points behind champions Guangzhou Evergrande.
Expectations
On paper, Beijing may have been handed a kinder group stage draw than Chinese champions Guangzhou but progress from Group F will not be easy. With the club busy during the transfer window, new signings like Brazilian forward Reinaldo and ex-China international midfielder Shao Jiayi must adapt quickly to their new surroundings if they hope to challenge for a spot in the last 16.
Coach
Jaime Pacheco
Portuguese coach Jaime Pacheco will take charge of a team in the AFC Champions League for a second time after leading Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia into the tournament two years ago. The 53-year-old will be hoping for a better outcome this time around as he was unceremoniously sacked by the Saudi club before they played their final group game.
Did you know?
While Beijing Guoan have yet to progress beyond the Round of 16 in the AFC Champions League, they did manage to reach the semi-finals of the Asian Cup Winners' Cup in 1998. They were eliminated by Korea's Suwon Bluewings but eventually finished third after a 4-1 victory over Kopetdag of Turkmenistan.
Key Player
Shao Jiayi
After spending the past decade in Germany, former China international midfielder Shao Jiayi has returned to his hometown to play for the club where he began his career. While he will turn 32 in April, Shao's physical stature and his vast experience means that he still exudes a commanding presence in the middle of the park.