Myanmar is ready to spend big to bring coach Velizar Popov away from The Cong Viettel.

The Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) has surprised many by expressing interest in reuniting with coach Velizar Popov to prepare for important goals, especially the 2026 AFF Cup campaign. This move comes as the Bulgarian coach is leading The Cong Viettel to positive results in the 2025/2026 V.League season.

Myanmar's ambitions and contractual hurdles.

According to regional sources, the MFF (Myanmar Football Federation) is willing to spend a large sum of money to compensate for contract termination in order to secure the services of Mr. Popov. The strategist currently has a contract with The Cong Viettel until the end of the 2026/2027 season. However, the Myanmar side has shown patience by being willing to wait until the end of the current season to conduct formal negotiations.

The reason MFF is eager to bring Popov back stems from the strong impression he left during his time coaching the Myanmar U23 team (2019-2022). His understanding of the local football culture and close relationship with the current core players are seen as key to helping him quickly revive the national team.

The challenging situation at The Cong Viettel.

Despite currently leading The Cong Viettel to third place in the league table after 13 rounds, coach Popov still faces considerable personnel difficulties. The departure of key players like Hoang Duc and Duc Chien has forced him to implement a playing style centered around a young, inexperienced squad and heavily reliant on foreign players.

The disparity between the management's ambition to compete for the championship and the actual quality of the squad is considered a factor that could impact Popov's future. If the military team fails to achieve its set goals or lacks consensus on long-term direction, the prospect of this strategist leaving the V.League to return to Myanmar is entirely possible.

The Bulgarian strategist's professional attitude

Despite rumors about his future, coach Velizar Popov remains professional and affirms his full focus on his work at The Cong Viettel. He prioritizes achieving the goals of the current season before considering other offers.

The coaching transfer market in Southeast Asia promises to become more vibrant towards the end of the season, as parties begin to take concrete steps to realize their ambitions.