Former V-League champion makes changes to return to the top

An experienced foreign coach, a largely retained core, and the goal of immediate promotion in their debut season in the First Division—Becamex TP.HCM makes it clear: the club refuses to linger in the lower tier.

The team that has won the championship four timesV-Leagueshows that they are a club thoroughly preparing for the upcoming season right after experiencing relegation for the first time.

Becamex TP.HCMhas nearly reached an agreement with former Ninh Bình coach Gerard Castano Albadalejo from last season.

The club also announced reforms to make positive changes and correct mistakes after the lesson paid for with relegation. Becamex TP.HCM has also set a gathering date for early July and is preparing to announce coach Gerard Castano.

The club, once nicknamed "Chelsea of Vietnam", understands there is little time for regret. The only goal now is to return to the top tier as quickly as possible. The choice of coach Gerard Castano shows that the management is aiming for a safe yet highly promising option.

The Spanish coach made his mark at Ninh Bình by leading the team to an impressive run in the 2025/26 V-League with a modern, well-organized style of play. Although the end of his tenure was not perfect, what he left behind was enough to convince an ambitious club like Becamex TP.HCM to place their trust in him.

What's even more encouraging is that the team did not suffer a "brain drain" after relegation. Minh Khoa, Vĩ Hào, Việt Cường, Tùng Quốc and many other key players have decided to stay. The only case isHồ Tấn Tàiis likely to seek a new challenge after receiving interest from a V-League club.

Retaining the core squad is a very important foundation. Not many relegated teams still possess a force strong enough to compete immediately like Becamex TP.HCM.

This is still a squad with many national team players, young internationals, and experienced campaigners in the V.League. If they add a few quality positions in midfield as planned, the team's strength will be significantly enhanced.

But having a strong squad alone is not enough. What causedBecamex TP.HCMto be relegated is not simply about the technical performance of a single season. It is the result of many years of instability. The club, once likened to "Chelsea of Vietnam", constantly changed coaches, philosophies, and foreign players, but rarely built a lasting identity.

A team that wants to make a strong comeback must change its way of operation. The commitment to give the coaching staff full professional authority and not interfere with the coach's work, as recently stated by the club's leadership, is exactly what fans have been hoping for.

If coach Gerard Castano is truly given the authority as promised, he will have the opportunity to build a team according to his own ideas instead of adapting to decisions from outside.

The upcoming First Division season will not be easy either.PVF CANDwas relegated together with Becamex TP.HCMand has also invested heavily with the goal of returning to the V-League immediately.

The race will no longer be a playground for teams that rely only on tradition or financial strength. To earn a promotion ticket, a team must maintain stability throughout a long season.