The race to succeed coach Mai Duc Chung: 3 strong contenders.
Following coach Mai Duc Chung's confirmation of his retirement plans, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) faces the difficult task of finding a successor. Three prominent domestic figures are being considered for the head coach position of the Vietnamese women's national team.
An era of Vietnamese women's football is drawing to a close as coach Mai Duc Chung is expected to retire after his contract with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) expires on December 31, 2025. The 76-year-old strategist, who has been with the team for nearly 20 years and brought countless successes, wishes to hand over the position to a younger and more energetic coach after the 33rd SEA Games.
"I will retire after this SEA Games regardless of the results. At my age, I still have the strength, but the head coach position needs someone younger and more energetic to lead the team further in this new phase," Coach Mai Duc Chung shared.
Finding a successor to his immense legacy is proving to be a difficult task for the VFF, especially after the option of recommending expert Akira Ijiri became unfeasible as he has returned to Japan.
Potential domestic candidates
Currently, the VFF is focusing its attention on domestic candidates, most notably former star players who have transitioned to coaching and achieved considerable success.
Van Thi Thanh: The advantage of a Pro certificate
Former football star Van Thi Thanh, currently managing Thai Nguyen T&T Club, is a strong candidate. She is the first female coach in Vietnam to possess the prestigious AFC Pro coaching license. The combination of her top-level playing experience and solid professional knowledge has led to high expectations for the former protégé of coach Mai Duc Chung.
Doan Thi Kim Chi: Number 1 position at the club level
Another notable name is coach Doan Thi Kim Chi. She has proven her talent by helping the Ho Chi Minh City women's club dominate the national championship and make her mark in the AFC Women's Champions League. She is currently also an assistant coach for the national team, possessing a deep understanding of key players. However, the biggest obstacle for Coach Kim Chi is the need to obtain higher coaching qualifications as required by the AFC.
Coach Hoang Van Phuc: The safest option?
According to experts, coach Hoang Van Phuc is currently the strongest candidate for this position. With extensive experience from national youth teams to club level coaching at Hanoi FC, Mr. Phuc has a distinct advantage.
Most importantly, he is working directly alongside coach Mai Duc Chung in the coaching staff for the SEA Games 33 campaign. His deep understanding of the philosophy, playing style, and mentality of the players during this generational transition makes him the safest and most promising choice to take over the hot seat left by his predecessor.
