Hanoi Police win V-League 2025/26 and a series of fierce reactions from coaches.
The 2-1 victory against Becamex Ho Chi Minh City helped Hanoi Police equal the record of 64 points to clinch the championship, while coach Popov and Harry Kewell stirred controversy with their statements about the referee.
Round 25 of the V-League 2025/26 witnessed a historic moment when Hanoi Police officially became the new champion after a narrow victory against Becamex Ho Chi Minh City. However, this Vietnamese football celebration was also overshadowed by heated controversies from foreign coaches regarding refereeing and pragmatic playing styles.
Hanoi Police equal historical championship record.
At Hang Day Stadium, over 12,000 spectators witnessed Hanoi Police complete their championship journey with a 2-1 victory over Becamex Ho Chi Minh City. Two goals from foreign duo Alan Grafite and Leo Artur not only secured three points but also helped the team reach 20 wins with a total of 64 points. This impressive figure officially equals the record for the highest points total in the history of the tournament, a record previously set by Hanoi FC in 2018.
This title holds special significance for many individuals. Captain Nguyen Quang Hai has added his sixth national championship trophy to his collection. For coach Mano Polking, this is a sweet reward after 15 years of professional coaching, finally lifting the national championship trophy for the first time.
Controversy arising from statements made on the coaching bench.
In stark contrast to the jubilation at Hang Day Stadium, the atmosphere in Pleiku was incredibly tense following Hanoi FC's 1-3 defeat to Hoang Anh Gia Lai. This result nearly cost the capital city team their chance to compete for a medal. Coach Harry Kewell publicly criticized the opponent's playing style, claiming that Hoang Anh Gia Lai played "not really football." In response, coach Le Quang Trai asserted that each team has the right to choose a pragmatic approach to suit their current squad.
Meanwhile, the focus of the anger was on Thể Công's coach Velizar Popov. After the dramatic 1-1 draw against Công an TP HCM, the strategist threatened to leave the V-League. Although Nhâm Mạnh Dũng gave Thể Công the lead, the goal conceded in the 85th minute caused Popov to lose his composure.
"I find everything terrible. I will leave this place and never come back," Popov declared vehemently. The coach of The Cong team claimed that his team was constantly being "robbed of points" by unfavorable referee decisions in every round.
Other notable developments in Vietnamese football.
In the First Division, coach Nguyen Viet Thang made a significant impact by leading Truong Tuoi Dong Nai to victory and early promotion to the V-League. This is the second consecutive year he has helped a team achieve promotion. Despite his resounding success, Coach Thang remains humble and longs for a real opportunity to coach in Vietnam's top league.
In the relegation zone, Thanh Hoa FC officially secured their place in the V-League one round early, despite losing 0-2 to Ninh Binh. However, the joy of avoiding relegation was accompanied by regret as captain Doan Ngoc Tan officially bid farewell to the Thanh Hoa team. The midfielder, born in 1994 and a member of the Vietnamese national team that won the 2024 AFF Cup, sent an emotional farewell to his teammates after four years together.
Finally, Vietnam U19 coach Yutaka Ikeuchi is finalizing the last preparations for the Southeast Asian U19 Championship. Despite the difficulties regarding the squad, the Japanese coach affirmed that the entire team will play with the highest level of determination, treating every match as a final.