The Zhejiang Greentown team celebrates its first goal of the season. [Photo/IC]

Zhejiang Football Club may have missed out on a winning start in the Chinese Super League opener, but for fans, the real victory was the return of Zhejiang Greentown.

On Feb 23, Zhejiang FC faced Dalian Yingbo in their season debut, but the highlight was the official signing of a naming rights deal with Greentown Group. Players took the field in jerseys emblazoned with the familiar "Greentown" logo, evoking nostalgia and pride among supporters.

The return was long in the making. Last season, Zhejiang FC underwent ownership restructuring, with longtime investor Greentown Group exiting as a shareholder after 26 years. The club's new stakeholders, Hangzhou Commerce & Tourism Group and Zhejiang Provincial Energy Group, granted Greentown priority in securing the team's naming rights in recognition of its contributions to Zhejiang soccer.

Greentown Group, a Zhejiang-based real estate firm, sees the move as both a tribute to its soccer legacy and a commitment to local sports development. Since its founding in 1998, the "Greentown" name has become synonymous with Zhejiang soccer, deeply ingrained in the hearts of fans.

Many supporters recalled how Greentown's founder, Song Weiping, laid the foundation for professional soccer in Zhejiang. In the stands, fans sang old anthems and chanted, "Zhejiang is our name, Greentown is our belief," rekindling memories of past triumphs.

National team player Cheng Jin, a product of Greentown's youth academy, welcomed the change. "Hearing the name Zhejiang Greentown again feels special. The club has supported Zhejiang soccer for years, and I hope more fans will join us in the stands."

While the club ownership may change, some names carry legacies that transcend business. As the Zhejiang Greentown banner once again flies over Huanglong Sports Center, the iconic green remains a source of pride for fans across the province.