Ex-Premier League player sacked in brutal 26 word statement after blowing title race

John Aloisi sacked after Chengdu squandered a 12-point lead, losing all four final games to miss the Chinese Super League title on the last day.

John Aloisi has been sacked as Chengdu Rongcheng head coach following a catastrophic collapse in the Chinese Super League title race. The Australian, who managed the club from January, oversaw an extraordinary implosion: Chengdu held a 12-point lead with four games remaining and needed just one point to secure the championship, but lost all four matches.

The collapse unfolded dramatically over the final stretch. On October 10, Chengdu lost 1-0 at home to Tianjin Jinmen Tiger with a 91st-minute goal. They then suffered a 3-0 defeat away to Shanghai Port.

In a match against eventual champions Dalian Yingbo, Chengdu had an equaliser ruled out by VAR in the 90th minute while trailing 1-0. On the final day, Chengdu lost 3-2 to Shandong Taishan, and Dalian Yingbo won 3-2 over Tianjin to claim the title in stunning fashion.

Aloisi was dismissed in a terse 26-word statement: "Mr. John Aloisi is no longer serving as the head coach of Chengdu Rongcheng Football Club, and his team members are leaving the club as well." After the loss, Aloisi apologised to supporters, saying: "We could see the trophy right in front of us, but could not get it."