Many Nghe An coaches are qualified to lead the team in the 2025/2026 season.

According to the regulations of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), from the 2025/26 season, to be eligible to be a head coach in the V.League, managers must possess a professional coaching degree (Pro - AFC), which is more valuable than the A - AFC degree.

The AFC minimum requirement for a Team 1 fitness coach is an AFC Level 2 Fitness Coach Certificate or any equivalent valid foreign coaching qualification recognised by AFC. Meanwhile, the AFC minimum requirement for a Team 1 goalkeeper coach is an AFC 'A' Goalkeeper Coach Certificate.

In V.League 2024/25, there are 4/14 clubs that do not have a head coach who meets the regulations, namely Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, Hong Linh Ha Tinh, Quang Nam andLam River Nghe AnWith Hong Linh Ha Tinh just appointing coach Nguyen Cong Manh as head coach, this number is only 3/14 clubs.

The remaining teams have all sent their head coaches to attend the Pro/AFC/VFF Professional Football Coach Training Course Phase 2 in Japan. Notably, there are 3 coaches from Nghe An: Nguyen Thanh Cong, Phan Nhu Thuat (currently leading Song Lam Nghe An) and Van Sy Son (currently leading Quang Nam).

According to VFF, the Pro training course phase 2 continues to have direct guidance from Mr. Kageyama Masanaga - Technical Director of the Japan Football Federation (JFA) and Mr. Koshida Takeshi - Technical Director of VFF.

At the same time, students will gain knowledge from leading experts from the Japan Football Association, local football federations and prestigious football training centers in Japan. This intensive training content includes prominent topics such as youth football development, match analysis and grassroots football organization. In addition to theoretical lectures, students also have the opportunity to directly watch and study actual matches in youth and top professional tournaments in Japan.

Vietnamese football currently has 22 coaches who possess professional coaching certificates (Pro) through two Pro coaching training courses organized by VFF in coordination with AFC. The first people to possess this valuable certificate, graduating in 2017, include coaches Phan Thanh Hung, Nguyen Duc Thang, Nguyen Huu Thang, Nguyen Minh Phuong, Le Huynh Duc, Lu Dinh Tuan, Phan Ba ​​Hung, Hoang Van Phuc, Hoang Anh Tuan, Nguyen Quoc Tuan and Pham Nhu Thuan.

Graduating in 2023 and continuing to own a Pro license later are coaches Hua Hien Vinh, Chu Dinh Nghiem, Le Duc Tuan, Nguyen Anh Duc, Vu Nhu Thanh, Nguyen Xuan Hieu, Dao Quang Hung, Nguyen Cong Manh, Le Quang Trai, Le Bat Hieu and Van Thi Thanh.

Thus, if everything goes smoothly, there will be 6 coaches from Nghe An who will be qualified to lead teams in V.League including coaches Nguyen Huu Thang (born 1972), Nguyen Xuan Hieu (born 1977), Nguyen Cong Manh (born 1977), Van Sy Son (born 1972), Nguyen Thanh Cong (born 1977) and Phan Nhu Thuat (born 1984).

In addition, other coaches from Nghe An such as Pham Bui Minh, Nguyen The Anh... are also coaches with the highest qualifications of Fitness and Goalkeeping coaches. Coach Pham Bui Minh, assistant - Fitness coach of Song Lam Nghe An, owns an A - AFC license and a Level 2 Fitness Coach Certificate of AFC. Coach Nguyen The Anh currently owns an AFC 'A' Goalkeeper Coach Certificate and is working as an AFC assistant lecturer.

Investing in improving qualifications for Vietnamese coaches in general and Nghe An coaches in particular will be an important foundation to help them improve their professional capacity, meet the standards to participate in national professional tournaments and AFC tournaments, and thereby contribute to promoting the sustainable development of the country's football./.