New coach and strong reinforcements! Rongcheng adjusts its squad to continue pursuing honors, while Zhou Dingyang is currently closer to leaving the team.

Written by: Lumi and Han Bing On January 6, Rongcheng officially announced their new head coach, Australian John Aloisi (younger brother of Ross Aloisi, head coach of Zhejiang team), who replaces Xu Zhengyuan. The coaching vacancy, which had been open for nearly a month, was finally filled. The club carefully evaluated many candidates before deciding on Aloisi. Along with the new coach's arrival, foreign player signings were confirmed—former Hainiu winger Silva officially joined, and Shanghai Port midfielder Yusa has reached Chengdu.

After Xu Zhengyuan’s departure, the club began searching for a new coach, targeting several candidates from Europe and Australia. After multiple rounds of screening, the list was narrowed down to two or three people. They were even close to signing Montgomery, who was rumored to be linked with Guoan, but ultimately chose John Aloisi.

John Aloisi, who will turn 50 in early February, is three years younger than his brother Ross, who coaches Zhejiang. However, John had a more distinguished playing career—he spent 15 years abroad, playing 228 matches and scoring 58 goals in the top five European leagues; Ross started his European career five years later, with only one Ligue 1 substitute appearance for 33 minutes. For the Australian national team, John earned 55 caps and scored 27 goals, while Ross appeared only three times.

John began his coaching career in February 2011 as an assistant for the youth team at Melbourne Heart, the predecessor of Melbourne City. In May 2012, he replaced Vance Kip as head coach but had a poor start, achieving just 8 wins, 7 draws, and 2 losses in 39 matches over nearly 20 months. By the end of 2013, he was replaced by Vance Kip again. In May 2015, he became head coach of Brisbane Roar, with his brother Ross serving as assistant. In the first two seasons, he led the team into the top four and playoff contention but was dismissed at the end of 2019 due to poor results.

John’s team has only faced Chinese Super League clubs once in an official match, when they eliminated Shenhua 2-0 away in the 2017 AFC Champions League playoff to enter the group stage but finished last in the group. In July 2021, coaching Western United, he led the team from 10th in the regular season to 3rd and won the playoffs in his first season. In the 2024/25 season, he again guided the team to the playoffs, finishing 3rd. Last summer, Western United failed to obtain a professional league license and withdrew from the A-League, leaving John unemployed since then.

John advocates attacking football, mainly using formations like 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2, with particular emphasis on the roles of the wingers and striker.

With this coaching appointment at Rongcheng, the Aloisi brothers will stage a "brotherly derby" in the Chinese Super League. Previously in the A-League, after both became coaches, they faced each other three times, all wins for John—during the 2021/22 A-League regular season, John’s Western United defeated Ross’s Brisbane Roar twice; at the end of 2023, John won 2-1 at home against Ross, who was then the Brisbane Roar head coach. Nine days later, Ross was recruited by Muscat to join Shanghai Port as an assistant coach.

In the announcement, Rongcheng Club stated: "Aloisi brings extensive experience from European leagues and coaching in the A-League to Rongcheng, starting a new journey. As a coach who values teamwork and youth development, Aloisi’s arrival will inject new energy into Rongcheng, helping the team improve tactical levels and build a more competitive squad."

During Xu Zhengyuan’s tenure, the tactical system remained relatively stable over five years. With the new coach and personnel changes, Rongcheng will undoubtedly present a refreshed look in the new season. This adjustment is an important decision made by the club after comprehensive assessments and considering the team’s long-term development needs, aiming to further enhance competitiveness.

In terms of the squad, players like Yan Dinghao and Gurfinkel have left, and Calon, who still had a contract, will also be released. To address this, the team actively strengthened during this winter transfer window. Among foreign players, Brazilian defensive midfielder Yusa joined on a free transfer. In 76 previous CSL matches, he contributed 4 goals and 7 assists, averaging 2.5 tackles per game, combining interception skills with forward runs, which will boost Rongcheng’s midfield defensive strength. Replacing Calon is former Hainiu winger Silva; both have arrived in Chengdu almost simultaneously. Additionally, the addition of Beijing Guoan’s substitute striker Wang Ziming is also a valuable boost to the team’s attacking power.

The renewal of key players is also closely watched, especially the captain Zhou Dingyang’s future. Zhou has received offers from multiple clubs, with Shenzhen Pengcheng even presenting a long-term contract. Although he previously tended to stay in Chengdu, it now seems he is closer to joining Shenzhen Pengcheng. As the team’s spiritual leader and tactical core, Zhou set a CSL record for the longest distance covered in a single match at 13,511.69 meters, with an average of over 13,000 meters per game, truly tireless. If Zhou cannot renew his contract, it would be a great loss for Rongcheng fans, but Yusa’s signing is partly the club’s preparation for the possible departure of their captain.

Currently, the club has already completed contract renewals with core players such as Wei Shihao, Li Yang, Gan Chao, and Hu Hetao, laying a foundation for the new season’s preparations. It is worth mentioning that the team’s recruitment is not finished; they are also in talks with Shenzhen Pengcheng forward Baihalamu.

In the 2026 season, Rongcheng will continue to strive for top honors. Notably, the team will not be distracted by the AFC Champions League, allowing them to focus fully on the CSL and FA Cup. The advantage of the Wuliangye Sports Center’s “fortress-like home ground” is expected to be fully utilized.

Of course, there are many challenges: several key starters are over 30 years old, so managing fitness and injury risks is critical; the integration of the new coach’s tactical system with the players will directly affect the team’s potential; and the lack of a strong second scoring option in attack also needs to be addressed.

To this end, Rongcheng will fully support Aloisi’s team in their work, assist with winter training preparations and tactical refinement, while continuously optimizing the squad and developing young player reserves.

With a new coach and new signings, Rongcheng fans are full of anticipation for the upcoming season and have expressed their intention to continue cheering for the team at Phoenix Mountain.