Xu Zhengyuan and Rongcheng ended contract renewal negotiations due to fundamental disagreements on certain terms, and talks with Guoan were also halted.

Reporter Lu Mi reporting. The "Xu-era Rongcheng," a period cherished by Chengdu supporters for five years, ended abruptly. The two sides had once resumed talks over a two-year contract, making some headway. Yet, the situation shifted rapidly, and both parties soon acknowledged their inability to agree on several terms, resulting in the end of the renewal and collaboration. This distinguished coach, who led the team from China League One to the AFC Champions League breakthrough, will now step down. After the talks with Rongcheng ended, rumors linked Xu Zhengyuan to Beijing Guoan, and deep contact even took place, but was later stopped by the relevant Beijing authorities.

The contract renewal dispute between Xu Zhengyuan and Rongcheng actually surfaced once during the season. The core issue was that the previous contract signed with Chengdu Rongcheng included a clause stipulating that if the team qualified for the AFC Champions League group stage, the Korean coach would automatically extend his contract for three years. In August 2025, Rongcheng achieved a historic 3-0 victory over Bangkok United in the AFC Champions League playoff, advancing to the group stage, and subsequently earned 6 points in the group matches, becoming the best performing Chinese Super League team at that time.

Several weeks ago, after a change in the club's chairman, Chengdu Rongcheng proactively restarted negotiations, proposing a new two-year contract to replace the previous automatic renewal clause. Early communications progressed positively, and before departing for the AFC Champions League matches in Japan, both sides even signed a letter of intent covering the main contract terms.

Xu Zhengyuan had begun preparations for player recruitment in 2026, while the club simultaneously secured contract renewals for players like Wei Shihao and Leichet. However, after the AFC Champions League games, a turning point emerged. When formal negotiations resumed, both sides could not agree on some written additional clauses, each holding firm to their stance, which led the talks to shift from a pause to an amicable parting.

Currently, Xu Zhengyuan is resting in South Korea and will soon return to Chengdu to complete some follow-up tasks. Korean media report that several K League clubs have shown interest in Xu Zhengyuan, though he has not yet responded. After the failed contact with Beijing Guoan, Xu’s side stated that he plans to rest for a while before making further decisions.

Earlier in the season, Xu Zhengyuan had discussions about contract renewal with Rongcheng’s former chairman, but these talks were unsuccessful and even led to public disputes during press conferences, resulting in internal disciplinary action against Xu. It is understood that although the renewed negotiations encountered fundamental disagreements on some additional clauses, the atmosphere was not hostile. The previous contract’s automatic three-year renewal clause is also unlikely to be pursued further by Xu through FIFA.

For Chengdu Rongcheng, this sudden breakup is undoubtedly unexpected. The team still has matches to play in the AFC Champions League Elite Tournament, with the February 2026 match against Buriram United being a last chance to qualify. The coaching selection must be completed within less than two months. A more practical issue is that the club’s recruitment and renewal plans based on Xu Zhengyuan’s tactical system will be put on hold due to the termination of talks, and some players’ futures may need to be reassessed. Of course, players like Romulo and Felipe, who already have contracts, will remain unchanged, only awaiting the arrival of a new coach to establish a fresh tactical framework.

With Xu Zhengyuan’s departure, the presence of Korean coaches in the Chinese Super League continues to shrink. From Nam Ki-il’s contract termination with Henan, Choi Kang-hee’s exit from Shandong Taishan, Zhang Wailong missing out on leading Chongqing Tongliang Long in the 2026 CSL season, to now Xu Zhengyuan parting ways with Chengdu Rongcheng, it is likely that the new CSL season may see no Korean coaches at all. For Chengdu Rongcheng, finding a suitable successor quickly and smoothly transitioning the tactical system will be a significant challenge for the club’s management.