Zhejiang Professional F.C.

Zhejiang Professional Football Club (Chinese: 浙江职业足球俱乐部; pinyin: Zhèjiāng Zhíyè Zúqiú Jùlèbù), commonly referred to as Zhejiang FC or simply Zhejiang and currently known as Zhejiang F.C. Greentown (Chinese: 浙江俱乐部绿城) for sponsorship reasons, is a Chinese professional football club based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, that competes in the Chinese Super League, the top tier of Chinese football. Zhejiang plays its home matches at the Huanglong Sports Center, located within Xihu District. The club's main investors are the Zhejiang-based Greentown China Holdings Limited company and the Zhejiang Energy Group.

The club was founded on January 14, 1998, as Zhejiang Green Town, making their debut in the third tier of China's football league pyramid in the 1999 league season. On November 23, 2000, the club bought the playing right for the Chinese Football Association Jia League as well as 32 players from the first team of Jilin Aodong for 25 million Yuan. They have subsequently won promotion to the top tier after finishing runners-up in the 2006 league season. The highest position they have ever finished is third, achieved in the 2022 and 2023 Chinese Super League seasons.

History

Zhejiang Green Town Football Club Co., Ltd. was officially established on January 14, 1998, with a capital base of 16 million yuan. Zeng Leming was appointed as general manager. Greentown Real Estate Company, Hangzhou Qiantang Real Estate Company, Zhejiang University and Zhejiang Provincial Football Association all participated in the creation and registration of the club. The team participated in the third tier[of what?] with Bao Yingfu as their first head coach. They made the play-offs in 2000 before losing to Tianjin Lifei.

In November 2000, the club bought the playing rights to participate in the Chinese Football Association Jia League as well as 32 players from Yanbian F.C. for 25 million Yuan. Under the new general manager Shen Qiang, the club failed to win promotion to the top tier league, as several players and coaches were discovered to be taking bribes to throw games. Offending participants were banned for a year and the club had to reform and re-apply for a CFA playing license. The club then went through several management changes as well as a significant ownership shift, which saw Song Weiping's company Greentown China Holdings Limited take a 96% share of the team for 20 million yuan in 2005 while Zhejiang University held on to 4%.

The team achieved promotion at the end of the 2006 league season when they came second in the division.

Hangzhou Greentown

In 2009, the club renamed itself to Hangzhou Greentown Football Club.

The club was set to be relegated at the end of the 2009 season, but were allowed to stay remain in the 2010 CFA Super League after it was discovered that Chengdu Blades and Guangzhou GPC were guilty of match-fixing.

AFC Champions League debut

After the 2009 season, the club signed several established Chinese internationals such as Du Wei, Li Yan and Wang Song. The club's results significantly improved throughout the 2010 league campaign, which saw them achieve their highest ever finish of fourth and a chance to play in the 2011 AFC Champions League for the first time.

They were relegated to the 2017 China League One after finishing in second-to-last place in the 2016 Chinese Super League.

Aiming to win the 2017 National Games of China, Hangzhou Greentown prioritized the club's youth. However, the team struggled near the relegation zone in their first season of China League. Young trainer Xu Lei filled for manager Hong Myung-bo and the team returned to 9th place in the league. Former player and veteran Jiao Fengbo returned as the new general manager.

Zhejiang Greentown

On 14 January 2018, the club changed their name to Zhejiang Greentown Football Club for the 20th anniversary of the club. They reached third place in the China League.

Zhejiang Energy Greentown

In September 2020, the team changed their name to Zhejiang Energy Greentown Football Club, as Zhejiang Energy Group stepped in as one of the major shareholders and Song Weiping officially quit the club.

Rebrand to Zhejiang

On 26 February 2021, according to the requirements of non-corporate change of club name by the Chinese Football Association, the club's name changed to Zhejiang Professional Football Club.

Return to the AFC Champions League

Zhejiang finished third in the 2022 Chinese Super League season, qualifying for the 2023–24 AFC Champions League group stage.

On 20 June 2024, AFC confirmed Zhejiang would participate in the inaugural 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two group stage. Zhejiang was placed in Group F alongside Thai club Port FC, Singaporean club Lion City Sailors and Indonesian club Persib Bandung.

2026 Chinese Super League season

In 2026, Zhejiang started the 2026 Chinese Super League season with five points deducted for violation of sports ethics and loss of sportsmanship as they engaged in improper transactions to seek illegitimate benefits.

Name history

Current squad

First team

As of 5 March 2026

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Reserve team

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Notable players

Players who have played for Zhejiang and represented their nations at senior level.

• Colombia John Jairo Trellez (2001–04)
• Cameroon Bertin Tomou (2002–03, 2005)
• Brazil Argel Fuchs (2007)
• Hong Kong Ng Wai Chiu (2009–10)
• Honduras Luis Ramírez (2010–11)
• South Korea Kim Dong-jin (2012–13)
• Japan Masashi Oguro (2013)
• Chinese Taipei Chen Po-liang (2015–19)
• Australia Matthew Spiranovic (2015–17)
• Australia Tim Cahill (2016)
• Lebanon Roda Antar (2016)
• Croatia Sammir (2016)
• South Africa Dino Ndlovu (2018–20)
• Zimbabwe Nyasha Mushekwi (2019–23)
• Hong Kong Leung Nok Hang (2021–25)
• Croatia Franko Andrijašević (2021–25)
• Ivory Coast Jean Evrard Kouassi (2023–25)
• Gabon Aaron Boupendza (2025)

Coaching staff

As of 21 February 2025

Source:

Managerial history

As of Beginning of 2025 Chinese league season[citation needed]

• China Bao Yingfu (22 Jan 1999 – Dec 1999) (general coach)
• China Zhu Haibo (May 1999 – Dec 1999)
• China Wu Tingrui (Dec 1999 – Jul 2000)
• China Zhang Jingtian (18 Jan 2000 – 2000) (general coach)
• China Zhou Chenggui (Jul 2000 – Oct 2000)
• China Gu Mingchang (23 Dec 2001 – 7 Jul 2001)
• China Wang Changtai (8 Jul 2001 – 21 Jul 2001) (caretaker)
• Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Goran Kalušević (24 Jul 2001 – 28 Aug 2001)
• China Wang Changtai (28 Aug 2001 – 6 Oct 2001) (caretaker)
• England Bobby Houghton (Jan 2002 – 21 Jul 2003)
• China Li Bing (21 Jul 2003 – Dec 2003)
• China Wang Zheng (Dec 2003 – 15 May 2007)
• China Zhou Suian (15 May 2007 – Dec 2007)
• China Sun Wei (Dec 2007 – 21 Apr 2008)
• China Zhou Suian (21 Apr 2008 – 21 Sept 2009)
• China Wu Jingui (21 Sept 2009 – Nov 2011)
• Team Committee (16 Oct 2011 – Nov 2011)
• Japan Takeshi Okada (15 Dec 2011 – 5 Nov 2013)
• China Yang Ji (6 Nov 2013 – 4 Nov 2014)
• France Philippe Troussier (2 Dec 2014 – 1 Jul 2015)
• China Yang Ji (1 Jul 2015 – Nov 2015)
• South Korea Hong Myung-bo (17 Dec 2015 – 25 May 2017)
• Bulgaria Zdravko Zdravkov (25 May 2017 – Nov 2017) (caretaker)
• Spain Sergi Barjuán (26 Nov 2017 – 3 July 2019)
• China Zheng Xiong (3 July 2019 – 31 Dec 2020)
• Spain Jordi Vinyals (1 Jan 2021 – 31 Dec 2024)
• Spain Raúl Caneda (29 Jan 2025 – 21 Dec 2025)
• Australia Ross Aloisi (22 Dec 2025 – present)

Grounds

Records

• Most league points in a season: 74 (China League, season 2021)
• Record victory: 6–0 v Tianjin Lifei (Jia B, 21 April 2001)
• Record defeat: 0–6 v Changchun Yatai (Jia B, 6 October 2001)
• Record attendance: 48,000 v Shanghai Zhongyuan (Jia B, 19 May 2001)
• Most league appearances: Cao Xuan (221)
• Top scorer: Nyasha Mushekwi (43 goals)
• Top league scorer: Nyasha Mushekwi (42 goals)
• Most league goals scored by a player in a season: Nyasha Mushekwi (23 goals, China League, season 2021)

Honours

Major

League

• Chinese Super League Third: 2022, 2023
• China League One Runners-up: 2006, 2020 Third: 2005, 2018, 2021

Cup

• CFA Cup Runners-up: 2022 Third: 2002 (shared), 2006 (shared)

Minor / Reserve / Youth

• CSL Reserve League Third: 2014
• CSL Elite League (U19) Champion: 2015
• China League Reserve League Runners-up: 2017
• National Games of China Champions: 2021 (U20) Runners-up: 2017 (U20), 2013 (U18) Third: 2013 (U20)

Results

All-time League rankings

As of the end of 2025 season.

^1Bought the first team of Jilin Aodong as well as their position in second tier.

^2Two CSL clubs were involved in match-fixing scandal and relegated to China League, so Hangzhou Greentown could stay at top level.

^3Failed to achieve promotion in the play-off.

^4Promotion was achieved via the play-off.

Key

Feeder teams

• Hangzhou Luyuan (1999–2003) [Youth team of Zhejiang Green Town FC] 2000, 2001 Chinese Yi League
• Ningbo Huaao (2006) [Youth team of Zhejiang Green Town FC] 2006 China D2 League
• Wenzhou Provenza (2011) [U19 team of Hangzhou Greentown FC] 2011 China D2 League

International friendlies

• On 26 July 2009, Manchester United visited the Huanglong Stadium and played a friendly against Hangzhou Greentown as part of their pre-season Asian tour. Manchester United won by 8 goals to 2.
• On 16 July 2011, Arsenal visited the Meihu Stadium and played a friendly against Hangzhou Greentown as part of their pre-season Asian tour. The game was drawn 1–1.
• Zhejiang Greentown also played two friendly games at the Mini Estadi in 2017 and 2019, against FC Barcelona B with the Spanish side won 1-0 and 3-1 respectively.

Continental results

Kit history

Rivals

Because there are not many football clubs based on Zhejiang in history, Zhejiang FC has rarely been able to have a rival in the province for a long time. In 2017, after being relegated to China League, Hangzhou Greentown briefly had a 2-seasons Zhejiang derby with Zhejiang Yiteng but only won 1 out of 4 matches. More often than not, Zhejiang FC has a stronger rivalry with other teams of the same level in the Wu Chinese region, particularly Shanghai Shenhua, and Shanghai Zhongyuan historically.

External links

• (in Chinese)