Coach Philippe Troussier left Việt Nam after disappointing results. — Photo bongdadoisong.vn

Football

HÀ NỘI — French coach Philippe Troussier has written a letter apologising to fans following disappointing results with the Vietnamese team, while also expressing his gratitude for the chance to serve the nation of Việt Nam.

Troussier has officially concluded his tenure as the head coach of the Việt Nam national team, which lasted over a year. During this period, the French coach experienced a lack of success as both the senior team and U23s suffered consecutive defeats in major tournaments. After returning to his hometown in France, Troussier posted an apology letter on his personal Facebook page on Thursday, addressing Vietnamese football fans.

He wrote: "Today, I speak to you with gratitude and humility as I reflect on my time as the head coach of the Vietnamese national football team. Although our journey has been marked by setbacks and challenges, I firmly believe in the potential of Vietnamese football and the resilience of all the players. Throughout my more than one year of working with them on a daily basis, I have been consistently amazed by the collective discipline and spirit of the group.

"From day one until the final minute, their tireless efforts have formed the backbone of the team, and I am deeply grateful for the privilege of working alongside such talented individuals. I strongly believe that maintaining this 'Never Give Up' attitude is crucial to achieving future collective success. I wish them good health, freedom from injuries, and the ability to sustain their competitive form at the highest level.

"During our journey, it is with a heavy heart that I acknowledge the recent disappointments we faced in the World Cup qualifiers. As the team's leader, I bear the weight of these results and take full responsibility for them.

"To the passionate supporters of Vietnamese football, I express my sincere gratitude and apologies. Your unwavering enthusiasm has been a source of inspiration for the team, and I am deeply humbled by your encouragement even during difficult times."

"In closing, I send my warmest regards and best wishes to all those who have been part of this journey. It has been an honour and a privilege for me, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve the nation of Việt Nam."

Currently, the Việt Nam Football Federation (VFF) has announced that coach Hoàng Anh Tuấn will replace Troussier as the head coach of U23 Việt Nam, while the search for a head coach of the Vietnamese national team continues.

On Thursday, FIFA also released the latest rankings of national teams. Following two losses to Indonesia in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, Việt Nam's ranking dropped by 30 points, causing them to fall 10 places to 115th in the world.

The Vietnamese team now hold the record for the most points deducted since the Asian Cup, due to their losses against lower-ranked opponents from the same region. Việt Nam's new position means that they have fallen out of the FIFA top 110 for the first time since March 2018.

Meanwhile, Indonesia improved their ranking, climbing to 124th in the world from 142nd place, thanks to their strong results. VNS