Chengdu Rongcheng Close to Appointing New Head Coach — A-League Champion John Aloisi Near Deal

On Monday, respected football journalist Xu Jiang revealed that Chengdu Rongcheng have essentially finalized their new head coach, with former Western United title-winning manager John Aloisi said to be “very close” to signing with the club.

According to Xu, both parties have largely reached an agreement on contract terms and performance objectives. Chengdu Rongcheng reportedly set clear criteria for their new manager: proven experience linked to Europe’s top five leagues and a track record of winning domestic league titles. Xu also confirmed that John Aloisi is the younger brother of Zhejiang FC head coach Ross Aloisi.

During his playing career, John Aloisi featured for clubs such as Portsmouth, Coventry City, Osasuna, Alavés, Central Coast Mariners, and Sydney FC, gaining extensive experience across Europe and Australia. After retiring in 2011, he transitioned into coaching, taking charge of West Adelaide, Brisbane Roar, and later Western United.

Aloisi’s most notable achievement came in the 2021–22 season, when he led Western United to their historic A-League championship. During his tenure, his teams averaged 1.43 points per match, underlining his consistency and tactical competence.

Should the appointment be confirmed, the Chinese Super League could witness a rare and intriguing storyline — a direct managerial showdown between two Aloisi brothers — adding extra intrigue to the upcoming season.