Zhejiang Professional F.C.

Zhejiang Professional Football Club, known simply as Zhejiang FC and currently branded as Zhejiang F.C. Greentown for sponsorship reasons, calls Hangzhou home. The club competes in the Chinese Super League, the top flight of Chinese football, and plays its matches at the Hangzhou Dragon Stadium in Hangzhou. Its ownership is split between Greentown China Holdings and the Zhejiang Energy Group, two major regional players.

Founded on January 14, 1998, as Zhejiang Green Town, the team began in the third tier of Chinese football in 1999. A pivotal moment came on November 23, 2000, when the club purchased the playing rights to the Jia League and 32 players from Jilin Aodong for 25 million yuan, effectively buying its way into the second division. Promotion to the top tier followed in 2006 after a runners-up finish in the second tier. The club's best league finishes came in 2022 and 2023, when they placed third in the Chinese Super League, securing AFC Champions League qualification on both occasions. Known for a steady, methodical approach, Zhejiang has built a reputation as a competitive force without the flash of the league's biggest spenders. [edit]

Zhejiang's road to the top flight began with a bold move in 2000. On November 23, the club bought the playing rights of the Jia League and 32 players from Jilin Aodong for 25 million yuan, instantly securing a spot in the second tier. After six seasons grinding through the second division, they finally reached the Chinese Super League in 2006, finishing as runners-up. The club's recent peak came in 2022 and 2023, when consecutive third-place finishes earned them back-to-back AFC Champions League berths.

The 2026 season has been a mixed bag. They opened with a 2-0 win over Qingdao West Coast on March 8, but a 4-0 loss to Chengdu Rongcheng on April 25 stung. A 0-0 draw with Beijing Guoan on April 17 and a 3-2 defeat to Shanghai Shenhua on July 5 kept things tense. Still, a 2-0 victory over Henan on May 30 showed their resilience. As of mid-season, they sit ninth in the standings. [edit]