Former V-League champion makes a promise, and fans immediately issue an 'ultimatum'

Becamex Ho Chi Minh City targets an immediate comeback to the V-League next season, yet fans insist that commitments are worthless if the team does not overhaul its management from the ground up.

The fact that Becamex Ho Chi Minh City must compete in the First Division after the 2025/26 season is a huge shock for Vietnamese football fans. Few could believe that a club that once won four times V-League titles, possessing strong financial resources and a squad far from weak, has fallen into this situation. What concerns fans more than a ticket back to the V-League is whether the club's management board truly dares to change after receiving an "ultimatum" from the very "12th players."

Recently, Becamex HCMC Chairman Ho Hong Thach and the management held a meeting with the squad leaders and core members of the fan club. There, the club made a series of commitments for the 2026/27 season, including a determination to win promotion, retain nearly all current players, add quality midfielders, and especially grant full professional authority to the new coaching staff expected from Spain.

Notably, the club's management also stated that there would be no more interference from the technical director or other executive members in the coach's work, as in previous seasons. This is considered a key change to rebuild trust after a disappointing season.

However, these promises are still not enough to convince the fans. Right at the meeting, many supporters openly voiced skepticism, saying they are no longer easily willing to trust the management's pledges. The reason is simple: Before the 2025/26 season, the club had set a goal of finishing among the top three, but ultimately had to accept the bitter outcome of relegation.

Therefore, what fans desire is not just a ticket back to the V-League, but a real "major overhaul" in how the club operates. In their view, if the club merely changes the coach or adds a few new players without solving the longstanding problems, Becamex HCMC will likely remain stuck in a vicious cycle.

This view is also shared by many former associates of the club. Former national player Vu Nhu Thanh believes that the reasons why Becamex HCMC declined do not stem solely from the past season, but are the result of a long period of instability. Frequent coaching changes, a lack of playing identity, ineffective foreign player selection, and management shortcomings have gradually caused the club to lose its status as a former V-League champion.

Given its current financial strength, few doubt that Becamex HCMC will soon return to the top tier of Vietnamese football. However, what fans are waiting for is not just promotion, but substantive changes from the leadership. The "ultimatum" sent by the supporters to the club is not about pressure to win the title or return immediately, but a demand for fundamental transformation to be worthy of the trust of the "12th players."