Coach Vu Hong Viet returns to lead Nam Dinh: A strange cycle and a saving grace in the Shopee Cup.
After 104 days out of the hot seat, Vu Hong Viet officially returned as head coach of Nam Dinh to try and salvage the 300 billion VND season as hopes in the V-League were fading.
Nam Dinh FC has just made a surprising personnel decision by reappointing Vu Hong Viet as head coach, replacing his predecessor Mauro Jeronimo. This is part of an effort to turn around the team's fortunes after a disappointing run of form in the domestic league, despite receiving a record investment of 300 billion VND for the 2025/2026 season.
An unusual personnel cycle at Thien Truong Stadium.
In the history of Vietnamese professional football, few strategists have experienced such a turbulent career path as Vu Hong Viet in the past 100 days. From the position of head coach, he successively moved to Technical Director, then CEO, before officially returning to lead the team. This change occurred immediately after coach Mauro Jeronimo was sacked after only 104 days in office, despite a not-so-low win rate (6 wins out of 11 matches).
The pressure from a three-match winless streak in the V-League and the defeat against The Cong Viettel was seen as the "last straw" that caused the Nam Dinh management to lose patience with the Portuguese coach. The reappointment of Mr. Viet was expected to bring immediate stability, as he was knowledgeable about the team's internal affairs and had strong connections with the current players.
The crisis in the V-League and the challenge of maximizing the effectiveness of the 300 billion VND budget.
The reality in the V-League is becoming increasingly harsh for the reigning champions. A 23-point gap behind league leaders Hanoi Police is considered insurmountable as the tournament enters its crucial stages. With an operating budget of 300 billion VND per year, a position in the lower half of the table is an unacceptable result for both the owners and fans of Nam Dinh.
The epitome of this decline is striker Nguyen Xuan Son. Nam Dinh's main goalscorer has gone four consecutive matches without scoring in the domestic league, reflecting the team's overall deadlock. However, paradoxically, the striker has maintained an impressive goal-scoring record in regional competitions.
Shopee Cup: A lifeline for a disastrous season.
With the door to defending their V-League title almost closed, the Southeast Asian Club Championship (Shopee Cup) has become the ultimate goal to salvage their honor. Here, Nam Dinh is showing a completely different face, thanks to the explosive performance of Xuan Son – who has scored 7 goals in just 3 matches.
The return of coach Vu Hong Viet is considered by experts to be a tactical move to allow the team to "let go" of the pressure in the domestic league and focus all its efforts on the Southeast Asian front. With potential opponent Johor Darul Ta'zim concentrating on the AFC Champions League, the opportunity for Nam Dinh to win its first international championship in history is clearer than ever. If successful at the Shopee Cup, this would be the perfect solution to the investment problem and end the cycle of instability on the coaching bench at Thien Truong Stadium.
