Who is the blockbuster on the coaching bench of Hanoi Club?
In recent days, Vietnamese fans have been curious about the identity of the new coach of the capital team. He is a former player who won the Champions League and has also had quite a good record as a coach.
Hanoi Clubis going through one of the most difficult starts in recent seasons. With poor performance - 3 defeats and 1 draw after the first 4 matches of the new season, the Capital team not only fell behind in the championship race but also said goodbye to the National Cup early. The inevitable consequence is that Mr. Makoto Teguramori's head coach position could not be maintained.
After parting ways with the Japanese strategist, the club's Board of Directors quickly appointed Mr. Yusuke Adachi as interim manager, and at the same time, they were actively looking for a successor capable of reviving Hanoi FC. The criteria were very clear: it had to be a foreign coach, with impressive achievements in the past, and especially under the age of 50 - a combination of experience, courage and youth to suit the modern, attacking development direction of the club.
And the name that has been mentioned the most by insiders in recent days is Harry Kewell – a former legendary Australian football player. If this information becomes reality, this will be one of the most resounding contracts in V.League history.
Harry Kewell was an icon of Australian football in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He was known for his flamboyant playing style, speed and skillful technique, having played for big clubs such as Leeds United, Galatasaray and especially Liverpool.
The pinnacle of Kewell's playing career was his time with the "Red Brigade" in the Port City. In 2005, he was part of the Liverpool squad that made the "Istanbul Night Legend", making an incredible comeback against AC Milan to win the UEFA Champions League. In addition, he also won an FA Cup with the Anfield team.
Thanks to his excellent form at club and national team level, Harry Kewell was nominated for the Ballon d'Or - an honor that very few Asian players have ever achieved. It is no exaggeration to say that he is one of the greatest players that Australian football has ever produced.
If Harry Kewell’s playing career is a golden resume, his coaching career is gradually forming its own identity. After years of testing his mettle in Europe, Harry Kewell is gradually making a name for himself in Asia. Most recently, he left a strong mark when leading Yokohama F. Marinos – one of Japan’s top clubs – to the final of the 2024 AFC Champions League.
Despite the 3-6 defeat after two matches against Al-Ain (UAE), the journey that Harry Kewell and Yokohama F. Marinos created is still encouraging. More importantly, his attacking philosophy has convinced experts and fans. After 33 matches in charge of the Japanese team, Yokohama F. Marinos scored 68 goals - a number that shows the explosion and clear effectiveness in the approach to the match.
This is exactly the style that the Hanoi Club's Board of Directors is craving: controlled, beautiful attacking football - true to the identity that the Capital team has built over the past decade.
According to some sources, if nothing changes at the last minute, Harry Kewell will be in the stands to observe the team's play in the upcoming V.League round 6. The first challenge that this coach will face will be welcoming Ninh Binh FC at home. The Ancient Capital team is in impressive form with an unbeaten streak (4 wins, 1 draw), and clearly this is a "high dose test" for the future new coach of Hanoi Club.
If the deal is confirmed, Harry Kewell will become one of the most famous coaches to have worked in Vietnam. His appearance will not only bring a new breeze to Hanoi Club but also help the image of the club.V.Leaguebe raised to international level.
However, in addition to expectations, Harry Kewell will certainly have to face many challenges. The capital team is currently facing problems in both mentality and playing style, many key players are losing form, while the pressure to achieve results is always present at the most ambitious team in Vietnam. In addition, adapting to the Southeast Asian football environment - with a tight match schedule, harsh weather and difficult away trips - is also a big challenge for any foreign coach.
However, with the courage that has been forged from the Champions League stage and the experience of coaching in Asia, Harry Kewell can absolutely create a miracle at Hang Day. And who knows, the "Istanbul miracle" of years past will be recreated in another form - on Vietnamese soil.
