Ross Aloisi departs as contract expires

On November 9, Zhejiang FC announced that head coach Ross Aloisi and his coaching team would not be renewing their contracts upon expiration. After mutual agreement, the team’s tenure officially ends and will not continue into the 2027 season. The club recognized Aloisi's work during his time in charge, but made the non-renewal decision with long-term development in mind, and offered best wishes to Aloisi and his staff.

This season in the Chinese Super League featured a unique storyline: Ross Aloisi is the older brother of Chengdu Rongcheng head coach John Aloisi, giving rise to a memorable “brother derby” during the league campaign.

Taking charge for the 2026 season, Aloisi led Zhejiang FC after the team began their Super League journey with a -5 points penalty. In the first half of the season, Zhejiang showed considerable competitiveness with a record of 6 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses in the first 15 matches, including a 2-2 away draw against Shanghai Port, which raised hopes for a climb up the table. However, Zhejiang’s form dipped notably in the second half, with fluctuating performances and some heavy defeats, ultimately finishing 9th in the CSL—safe from relegation but short of top-half ambitions. In the FA Cup, Zhejiang FC were eliminated early, losing on penalties to Shaanxi United in the fourth round after a draw in regular time.

During his tenure, Aloisi boldly promoted youth, building a young defensive line and giving substantial opportunities to players like Liu Haofan and Xu Junchi, who secured rotation or even starting places. Rising stars such as Wang Yudong and Bao Shengxin also benefited with exposure to high-level matches, helping bridge the gap between the senior team and the academy, in keeping with the club’s youth development tradition. However, problems with attacking efficiency and inconsistency in high-stakes matches persisted throughout the year—factors which contributed to the decision not to renew Aloisi's contract.