In the Asian Champions League 2005, Shandong managed to reach the quarter-finals after defeating the favorites Yokohama F. Marinos home and away but lost heavily to Saudi Arabian champions Al Ittihad, who were the eventual winners. In the second leg in Jeddah, Shandong lost 7-2 with coach Tumbakovic, players Zheng Zhi and Predrag Pazin sent off for abusive and violent conduct. In CSL 2005, Shandong was tipped to be champions but finished third.
Recently, much investment was put into the squad, including 2006 CSL top scorer Li Jinyu and 2006 MVP Zheng Zhi, who is about to return from a loan spell with Charlton Athletic in England. Talented and motivated young players include Cui Peng, Han Peng and Wang Yongpo. Finally, in CSL 2006, without ACL commitments, Shandong won the Cup and League double to get another shot at the ACL. The 2006 season was a landmark for Shandong Luneng after the team won the league by almost 20 points at one point and several matches remaining. They are known as big scorers.
In ACL 2007, Shandong will be looking to improve on their performances in 2005 when they reached the quarter-finals. Currently, they are on the verge of qualification with 13 points and one match remaining. They must not lose by more than one goal to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma to avoid elimination by head to head, since both teams would be equal on goal difference and Shandong only defeated Seongnam by one goal in Jinan.
Shandong Luneng has ten straight wins in the ACL group stages from 2005 and 2007 seasons. The retirement of Li Xiaopeng and loaning out of Zheng Zhi has weakened Shandong's midfield and central defense, but Shandong is still a very strong team in Chinese football with flexibility in attack and good teamwork coached by Partizan great Tumbakovic. In recent seasons, they have currently replaced Dalian Shide as the powerhouse team. Some have compared the current Shandong team to the Manchester United team of the early 90's, as they comprise of young, talented players scoring many goals to pulverize opponents.
The club has a tradition to hire foreign coaches. Their first ever foreign coach was Kim Jung-Nam who managed Korea during 1986 World Cup. The club got their first league Champion in 1999 under ex-Yugoslavia head coach Slobodan Santra? and won the FA cup in the same year as well. After that they hired ex-USSR head coach Boris Ignatiev and ex-Cameroon head coach Valeriy Nepomnyashy. Ljubi?a Tumbakovi? has been managing the team since 2004.
Culture
The players from this club are traditionally to be physically strong.
The relationship between club and players are normally good.
The relationship with Chinese sports media are not very good. Chinese sports media like to denounce players from this club without any reasons.
History
1994-1997
The team was promoted to the top flight in 1994. During the first 4 years, the club has various financial troubles. They lost several talents such as Wang Dongning, Leng Bo in the year end transfer of 1994. In 1995, the team surprisingly won the FA cup in Nan Jing. They reach the cup final again in 1996, however, they lost to Beijing Guo'an at Beijing. The team stays at 5th or 6th position in the league all through the 4 years. Su Maozhen won the top scorer award in 1996 with 13 league goals.
The team used traditional British soccer style under Yin Tiesheng. The team had solid defense and excellent attacking duo Su Maozhen and Tang Xiaocheng. Xing Rui was the captain for these 4 years.
1998
Korean coach Kim Jung-Nam took over the team in early 1998. He dramatically changed the style of this team to an attacking style. New signing from Beijing Guo'an Deng Lejun had an excellent season. However, Kim's style didn't bring him success. He resigned later and Yin Tiesheng regained power. The team merely stayed in top flight.
1999-2000
Yugoslavian national teach coach Slobodan Santra? achieved immediately success in his first year in China. The keeper Sa?a Petrovi? was the key for their success in 1999. However, Slobodan Santra? was forced to resign in 2000. The youth team coach Doko Kokovic took over the team.
2001-2003
Miroslav Bla?evi? was linked with this club initially. However, with the step down of general manager Shao Kenan, Boris Ignatiev was picked by new general manager Dong Gang. Boris Ignatiev had two devastating group match in Asia Club Championship, by losing 2-6 to Júbilo Iwata and 0-6 to .
Another Russian coach Valeriy Nepomnyashy who achieved great success in 1990 world cup with took over the team in 2002. However, the team got all time low 12th position in 2003.
Recent Years
Ljubi?a Tumbakovi? has been head coach since 2004. He led the team with two FA cup title and one league champion title . Li Jinyu won the top league scorer award in 2006 and 2007. The team ranked top in 2008 as September 2008.
Kang Menjun worked as general manager since 2006.
Crest
Honours
*2006 - Chinese Super League Winners, Chinese FA Cup Winners
*2005 - China FA Cup Runners-up
*2004 - CSL Cup Winners, Chinese FA Cup Winners, Chinese Super League Runners-up
*1999 - League Champions, Chinese FA Cup Winners
*1995 - Chinese FA Cup Winners
Current squad
''As of 8 September, 2008''
Technical staff
Famous Players
* Alfredo Moreno
* Erik Yakhimovich
* Márcio Roberto dos Santos
* Predrag Pazin
* Rafael Mendoza
* Su Maozhen
* Gao Ming
* Li Xiaopeng
* Wang Liang
* Deng Xiaofei
* Zong Lei
* Zheng Zhi
* Nicolas Ouédec
* Nii Lamptey
* Igor Glu??evi?
* Casiano Delvalle
* Sergei Kiriakov
* Ionel D?nciulescu
* Darko Anic
* Branimir Petrovi?
* Vladimir Madijasevic
* Branko Bakovic
* Nikola Malbasa
* Zoran Campara
* Marinko Gali?
* Serguei Nagorniak
* Jose Herrera
List of Shandong managers
* Yin Tiesheng
* Kim Jung-Nam
* Slobodan Santra?
* Doko Kokovic
* Boris Ignatiev
* Valeriy Nepomnyashy
* Ljubi?a Tumbakovi?
Kit Sponsor
Adidas
Mizuno
