Football

HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam Football Federation has appointed Mai Đức Chung as the acting head coach of the national football team.

Chung replaced coach Nguyễn Hữu Thắng, who announced his resignation after the U22 team lost in the ongoing Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia.

VFF President Lê Hùng Dũng thanked Thắng for his hard work with the team in the last one and a half year. He regretted that the team could not succeed at the games and accepted Thắng’s decision to quit.

After a discussion, the VFF chose coach Chung, who had just won a gold medal with the women’s squad a few days ago in Kuala Lumpur.

In the past, Chung had taken charge of the position when coach Alfred Riedl resigned in 2007. He was head coach assistant for national team and the U22 squad for years.

However, Chung would only be responsible for the team when they play Cambodia in the Asian Cup qualifier on September 5, because later, he would be busy with the women’s team, which will prepare for the women’s Asian Cup final in Jordan next April.

“Chung is a good trainer who loves his job. The man has always been lucky whenever he coached the women’s team. Although there is a difference between the men’s and women’s squads, I believe he can manage it,” said veteran coach Lê Thụy Hải.

As planned, the national team will be convened tomorrow in Hà Nội to practise for their match in Phnom Penh.

According to Lê Hoài Anh, VFF general secretary, the VFF would find a suitable coach for the team after the September game.

Speaking with the media a few days ago, Chung said he was ready to take the charge if the VFF offered him the post.

“I am a member of the VFF. I will do whatever the federation requires me to do. If they need me, I will agree,” he said.

Chung is the only coach in Việt Nam who had success both with the men’s and women’s football teams.

The 66-year-old grabbed three SEA Games gold with the national women’s team.

Under his reign, Becamex Bình Dương won the V.League trophy in 2016. Earlier, he led the club to the semi-final round of the Asian Football Confederation Cup in 2009. He is the first ever coach to register such an achievement for a Việt Nam’s fooball club in the continent-level tournament. — VNS