Former Portsmouth and Coventry striker John Aloisi sacked by brutal 26-word statement following extraordinary title collapse

Former Pompey goal hero John Aloisi has paid the ultimate price for Chengdu Rongcheng’s astonishing Chinese Super League title collapse.

The Aussie, who bagged 29 goals for the Blues in 68 appearances during the late 1990s, has been unceremoniously sacked by the Sichuan outfit after surrendering a colossal 18 point lead and handing the champions crown to Dalian Yingbo on the final day of the season.

Sunday’s game against Shandong Taishan was Aloisi & Co’s fourth attempt to claim the solitary point that was needed to secure the club’s maiden Super League title.

However, a 3-2 defeat, which was Rongcheng’s fourth loss in a row, saw them once again crumble under the pressure and gift Yingbo the unlikeliest of title successes due to their superior head-to-head record.

As expected, Aloisi - who took charge in January - came in for strong criticism from fans who believed a Chengdu coronation was inevitable.

Yet it appears the supporters weren’t the only ones left appalled by the team’s unexpected implosion, with the club issuing a brutal 26-word statement within 24 hours of Sunday’s final whistle to confirm Aloisi’s departure.

‘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,’ a statement from the club read.

Following Aloisi out the door are Diogo Ferreira, Harry Reading, Alex Calder, Shane Carr, Andres Carrasco and Antonello Brambillo.

Meanwhile, also on the lookout for new jobs are chairman Wang Lei and general manager Wu Bo, who both resigned in the aftermath of failure to deliver the club’s first ever national league title.

Before his swift exit was announced, Aloisi said he was desperately sorry for how the title race unfolded.

‘We are indeed very disappointed not to have won the championship. We are in a very despairing state. There is nothing else to say,’ he said.

‘I want to say sorry to everyone. We certainly know that our fans have travelled a long way to fight alongside us and support us.

‘Right now, my only feeling is one of great dejection and disappointment, because we could see the trophy right in front of us, but could not get it.’

Aloisi, 50, spent 16 months at Fratton Park following his £300,000 move from Cremonese in August 1997.

After firing 17 goals in the first three months of the 1998-99 season, the Australian was sold to Premier League Coventry for £650,000 in December 1998.

Since retiring, Aloisi has managed Melbourne Heart, Brisbane Roar, and Western United, whom he guided to the A-League title in 2022.

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