Aloisi, fondly remembered in Spain, suffers terrible experience in China

Aloisi sacked by Chengdu Rongcheng after squandering a 14-point lead to lose the Chinese Super League title on the final day.

John Aloisi, who built a strong reputation during his time at Osasuna and Alavés in Spain, has been dismissed as Chengdu Rongcheng manager following a dramatic collapse in the Chinese Super League title race.

Chengdu held a commanding 14-point advantage with five matches remaining but won only one draw and lost their final four games. On the decisive final day, Chengdu lost 3-2 to Shandong Taishan while Dalian Yingbo defeated Tianjin Jinmen Tiger 3-1 to claim their first title on goal difference. Dalian's superior head-to-head record against Chengdu, including a 1-0 victory in the penultimate round, proved decisive.

Aloisi's departure was announced shortly after the loss, with the club also confirming the resignation of president Wang Lei and general manager Wu Bo. Aloisi had joined Chengdu in January 2026 after winning the A-League with Western United in 2022.