[4] In the 2012 league season, Hebei Zhongji finished in 1st place in the North Group with 18 wins, 5 draws and only 1 defeat, however they were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Play-offs by Hubei China-Kyle with the score at 1–1, losing on the away goals rule.

On 16 August 2013 Guo Ruilong was brought in to manage the team for the rest of the 2013 league season, however during his brief tenure at the club he quickly led them to promotion after finishing runners-up at the end of the campaign.

Serbian manager Radomir Antić signed a three-year contract with the club on the same day.

The club has since expanded its bid for league success by landing international stars such as Gervinho and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

[8] In August 2016, the Chilean Manuel Pellegrini became manager of the club,[9] as part of a larger plan for Hebei China Fortune F.C.