HOT: VFF directly explains the reason for not choosing a foreign coach for the Vietnamese national team

VFF Vice President - Tran Anh Tu explains why an internal coach was chosen to lead the Vietnamese women's national team at this time.

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has officially appointed Mr. Hoang Van Phuc as the head coach of the Vietnamese women's national team, replacing his predecessor Mai Duc Chung. The contract for the strategist born in 1964 lasts for 1.5 years, starting from May 1, 2026 and extending until the end of the 34th SEA Games. This means Mr. Phuc will accompany the team in major goals such as ASIAD 2026, AFF Cup 2027, and the 34th SEA Games.

In reality, over nearly 30 years, the Vietnamese women's national team has only had three foreign coaches including Jia Guangtuo, Tran Van Phat, and Norimatsu Takashi. However, the most outstanding achievements, such as multiple SEA Games gold medals or the historic ticket to the 2023 Women's World Cup, are associated with internal coaches, especially Mai Duc Chung. Therefore, placing trust in Hoang Van Phuc is seen as a reasonable choice, with the expectation that he will continue to help the Vietnamese women's team maintain its top position in the region and advance further on the continental stage.

Compared to the men's team – where foreign coaches are often prioritized – the women's team has very different requirements. The VFF Vice President believes that internal coaches are not inferior in capability, but for the men's team, pressure from media and public opinion is much greater, sometimes giving foreign coaches an advantage in handling pressure. Meanwhile, for the women's team, what is more important is understanding the players and the ability to adapt to the specifics of Vietnamese football.

The decision to choose Coach Hoang Van Phuc instead of a foreign strategist has attracted much public attention. Explaining this issue, VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu stated that the first factor lies in expertise. According to regulations of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the head coach of a women's national team needs to possess a PRO license – the highest certification for coaches, and Mr. Hoang Van Phuc fully meets this standard.

Besides qualifications, experience and understanding of Vietnamese football are also important reasons for Mr. Phuc's selection. According to Mr. Tran Anh Tu, the head coach of the women's national team not only needs to be professionally skilled but also must understand the players well and have a connection with the domestic women's football environment. Previously, Coach Mai Duc Chung, despite not having a PRO license, was granted an exception due to his special contributions over many years to Vietnamese women's football.

Before officially taking the "hot seat," Coach Hoang Van Phuc had a period working as an assistant to Coach Mai Duc Chung. This is considered a necessary preparatory step for him to gain deeper access to the current squad, grasp the expertise, and build connections with the players. VFF evaluates him as someone with a good work ethic, knows how to leverage collective strength, and fits the long-term development direction of the women's team.

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