Former SLNA coach Phan Như Thuật joins PVF-CAND to support coach Nguyễn Thành Công.
After parting ways with SLNA, Phan Như Thuật officially became an assistant to the new head coach Nguyễn Thành Công at PVF-CAND, tasked with rescuing the team in the V-League relegation battle.
After parting ways with Song Lam Nghe An club, Mr. Phan Nhu Thuat has officially found a new destination in his coaching career. The coach, born in 1984, has decided to join PVF-CAND as a technical assistant to the new head coach Nguyen Thanh Cong.
A quality addition to the coaching bench.
This is seen as a strategic move to strengthen the coaching staff of the PVF team. Phan Nhu Thuat and Nguyen Thanh Cong are not only from Nghe An province but also close friends. Both recently completed the AFC Professional Coach Training Course (Pro license) in December 2025.
His experience leading Song Lam Nghe An in the V-League and his time as an assistant coach for the Vietnam U23 national team are valuable assets that Mr. Thuat brings to the team. He is expected to become a valuable "right-hand man" to coach Nguyen Thanh Cong in the rebuilding and revitalization of the team.
Establishing a new coaching staff framework.
Besides Phan Như Thuật, the support team for Mr. Nguyễn Thành Công at PVF-CAND also includes many familiar faces from Vietnamese football, including:
- Mai Tien Thanh:A former national team player with extensive playing experience.
- Han Van Tuan and Nguyen Duc Cuong:Two long-time trusted assistants of coach Nguyen Thanh Cong.
This new coaching staff is expected to bring a fresh perspective, improving the players' morale and performance during this challenging period.
The challenge in the relegation battle.
The task facing the new coaching staff at PVF-CAND is considered extremely challenging. After 11 rounds of the V-League 2025/26, the team is in a precarious situation, ranking 13th in the standings with only 8 points. The team's ultimate goal for the remainder of the season is to successfully avoid relegation.
To prepare for the second half of the season, the team's management is actively reviewing and adding personnel, including both domestic and foreign players, to strengthen the squad depth. The official debut match for coach Nguyen Thanh Cong and his assistant Phan Nhu Thuat will be a challenging encounter against Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the Round of 16 of the National Cup on January 24th.
