Zhejiang Professional Football Club (), commonly referred to as Zhejiang FC or simply Zhejiang and currently known as Zhejiang F.C. Greentown () for sponsorship reasons, is a Chinese professional football club based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, that competes in . 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 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 PeriodClub NameFirst Team Name1998–2001Zhejiang Green Town浙江绿城Zhejiang Green Town浙江绿城2001–04Zhejiang Sanhua Green Town (Sponsor Name)浙江三花绿城2004–09Zhejiang Babei Green Town (Sponsor Name)浙江巴贝绿城2009–10Hangzhou Greentown杭州绿城Hangzhou Greentown杭州绿城2010–12Hangzhou Nabel Greentown (Sponsor Name)杭州诺贝尔绿城2012–13Hangzhou 9Top Greentown (Sponsor Name)杭州九好绿城2013–14Hangzhou Daikin Greentown (Sponsor Name)杭州大金绿城2014–18Hangzhou Greentown杭州绿城2018–20Zhejiang Greentown浙江绿城Zhejiang Greentown浙江绿城2020–21Zhejiang Energy Greentown浙江能源绿城Zhejiang Energy Greentown浙江能源绿城2021–Zhejiang Professional浙江职业Zhejiang浙江
Current squad
First team
Reserve team
Out on loan
Notable players Players who have played for Zhejiang and represented their nations at senior level.
John Jairo Trellez (2001–04) Bertin Tomou (2002–03, 2005) Argel Fuchs (2007) Ng Wai Chiu (2009–10) Luis Ramírez (2010–11) Kim Dong-jin (2012–13) Masashi Oguro (2013) Chen Po-liang (2015–19) Matthew Spiranovic (2015–17) Tim Cahill (2016) Roda Antar (2016) Sammir (2016) Dino Ndlovu (2018–20) Nyasha Mushekwi (2019–23) Leung Nok Hang (2021–25) Franko Andrijašević (2021–25) Jean Evrard Kouassi (2023–25) Aaron Boupendza (2025)
Coaching staff As of 21 February 2025
Managerial history
Bao Yingfu (22 Jan 1999 – Dec 1999) (general coach) Zhu Haibo (May 1999 – Dec 1999) Wu Tingrui (Dec 1999 – Jul 2000) Zhang Jingtian (18 Jan 2000 – 2000) (general coach) Zhou Chenggui (Jul 2000 – Oct 2000) Gu Mingchang (23 Dec 2001 – 7 Jul 2001) Wang Changtai (8 Jul 2001 – 21 Jul 2001) (caretaker) Goran Kalušević (24 Jul 2001 – 28 Aug 2001) Wang Changtai (28 Aug 2001 – 6 Oct 2001) (caretaker) Bobby Houghton (Jan 2002 – 21 Jul 2003) Li Bing (21 Jul 2003 – Dec 2003) Wang Zheng (Dec 2003 – 15 May 2007) Zhou Suian (15 May 2007 – Dec 2007) Sun Wei (Dec 2007 – 21 Apr 2008) Zhou Suian (21 Apr 2008 – 21 Sept 2009) Wu Jingui (21 Sept 2009 – Nov 2011) Team Committee (16 Oct 2011 – Nov 2011) Takeshi Okada (15 Dec 2011 – 5 Nov 2013) Yang Ji (6 Nov 2013 – 4 Nov 2014) Philippe Troussier (2 Dec 2014 – 1 Jul 2015) Yang Ji (1 Jul 2015 – Nov 2015) Hong Myung-bo (17 Dec 2015 – 25 May 2017) Zdravko Zdravkov (25 May 2017 – Nov 2017) (caretaker) Sergi Barjuán (26 Nov 2017 – 3 July 2019) Zheng Xiong (3 July 2019 – 31 Dec 2020) Jordi Vinyals (1 Jan 2021 – 31 Dec 2024) Raúl Caneda (29 Jan 2025 – 21 Dec 2025) Ross Aloisi (22 Dec 2025 – present)
Grounds GroundLocationTotalCSLJia B / CL1YiCupZhejiang StadiumHangzhou 1300130Huanglong Sports CenterHangzhou254122115017Meihu Sports CentreJinhua1716001Jiaxing StadiumJiaxing97002Jinhua Sports CenterJinhua73400Zhoushan Sports CenterZhoushan20101Huzhou Olympic Sports CenterHuzhou11000
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. SeasonDivisionPtsPos.FA CupOtherAtt./GStadiumTop league scorer(s)Scores1998did not enter league systemDNQ - - - - -1999Yi1st Stage Group B103251215−3115Final 17DNQ -UnknownZhejiang StadiumYao Changming Qin Peng32000Yi1st Stage Group C1072120416231Final 82000年中乙联赛决赛阶段比赛名次 fa.org.cn 2013-04-30 Retrieved 2016-12-20DNQ -UnknownZhejiang StadiumYao Changming122nd Stage South Region62131113−2743nd Stage 1st Round200205−5lost - -tournament (Wuhan)2001Jia B22610633267288R1 -24,182Huanglong Sports CenterAdolfo Valencia122002Jia B228592933−4297SF -16,364Huanglong Sports Center Meihu Sports CentreBertin Tomou72003Jia B266911393902710R1 -11,615Huanglong Sports CenterAdolfo Valencia142004CL32129113839−1458R1 -3,625Huanglong Sports CenterShen Liuxi102005CL261745502327553R2 -14,917Huanglong Sports CenterBertin Tomou112006CL24174341182355RUSF -25,500Huanglong Sports CenterAlex Chandre de Oliveira152007CSL28610122535−102811 -19,571Huanglong Sports Center Meihu Sports CentreAlex Chandre de Oliveira52008CSL30912938326399 -12,188Huanglong Sports CenterErivaldo Antonio Saraiva102009CSL3088143043−133215 -14,790Huanglong Sports CenterErivaldo Antonio Saraiva132010CSL30139838308484 -14,550Huanglong Sports Center Meihu Sports CentreLuis Alfredo Ramírez142011CSL30109112832−4398QFACL Group8,586Meihu Sports Centre Jiaxing StadiumLuis Alfredo Ramírez72012CSL3099123446−123611QF -10,563Huanglong Sports CenterWang Song Renatinho82013CSL30810123442−83412QF -14,164Huanglong Sports CenterDavy Claude Angan92014CSL3088144360−173212R4 -13,766Huanglong Sports CenterAnselmo Ramon162015CSL3089132735−83311R4 -12,566Huanglong Sports CenterAnselmo Ramon122016CSL3088142837−93215R4 -11,723Huanglong Sports Center Jinhua Sports CenterAnselmo Ramon72017CL30812103139−8369R4 -4,881Huanglong Sports Center Jinhua Sports Center
Zhoushan Sports CenterAnselmo Ramon62018CL301497533815513R3 -8,717Huanglong Sports Center Zhoushan Sports CenterDino Ndlovu192019CL30149749409516R4 -8,678Huanglong Sports CenterDino Ndlovu172020CL1st Stage Group B1054119811192RUR2 - -tournament (Meizhou)Nyasha Mushekwi72nd Stage Group D5311853102tournament (Chengdu)2021CL342284692841743R4 - -tournament (Meizhou)Nyasha Mushekwi232022CSL3418115642836653F - 3,500Huzhou Olympic Sports Center tournament (Haikou, Round 1-10)Nyasha Mushekwi182023CSL301677573423553R4ACL Group 8,053Huzhou Olympic Sports CenterLéo Souza192024CSL30115145560−5387R5 ACL Two Group19,805Huanglong Sports CenterLéo Souza92025CSL301012860519427R4 -25,024Huanglong Sports CenterWang Yudong11Bought the first team of Jilin Aodong as well as their position in second tier.
Two CSL clubs were involved in match-fixing scandal and relegated to China League, so Hangzhou Greentown could stay at top level.
Failed to achieve promotion in the play-off.
Promotion was achieved via the play-off.
Key
China top division China second division China third division W Winners RU Runners-up 3 Third place Relegated
Pld = Played W = Games won D = Games drawn L = Games lost F = Goals for A = Goals against Pts = Points Pos = Final position
DNQ = Did not qualify DNE = Did not enter NH = Not Held – = Does Not Exist R1 = Round 1 R2 = Round 2 R3 = Round 3 R4 = Round 4
F = Final SF = Semi-finals QF = Quarter-finals R16 = Round of 16 Group = Group stage GS2 = Second Group stage QR1 = First Qualifying Round