V.League 2018: Some are enthusiastic, others are indifferent.

In preparation for the 2018 season, clubs that once dominated the V.League, such as Binh Duong (4-time V.League champions) and Hanoi (3-time V.League champions), have not made any moves to sign new players; in fact, they have even let their star players leave.

Several other teams that previously harbored ambitions in the V.League championship race, such as Da Nang, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh, are now showing little enthusiasm for the new season. Evidence of this is that after Huynh Duc resigned, Da Nang hired coach Minh Phuong (who had just led Long An FC to relegation to the First Division) as a mere formality, while Quang Ninh and Hai Phong also let some key players leave.

Meanwhile, emerging clubs like Thanh Hoa and Ho Chi Minh City are actively buying players and hiring foreign coaches. Even Ho Chi Minh City FC, led by Le Cong Vinh, has brought in German fitness expert Martin Forkel and coach Miura to help out.

According to experts, after a period of enthusiastic investment in football, many sponsors, as well as owners of some V.League teams, are starting to feel exhausted and somewhat discouraged because investing in football is like "throwing money away." Tens, even hundreds of billions of dong are lost each year, and if not handled carefully, it can backfire, as players are not focused on playing but only on transfer fees and match bonuses. This leads to high bonuses energizing the team, but a lack of bonuses results in half-hearted play, or even match-fixing.

This season, Hanoi FC (in white jerseys), owned by Mr. Hien, has been cautious in its player acquisitions. Photo: Duc Dung

While professional quality is declining and stadiums are empty, salaries, bonuses, and signing fees for players still have to be paid regularly. To avoid being accused of abandoning their sponsors, the owners have resorted to a policy of "living hand-to-mouth" and a system of "manage to make ends meet."

Therefore, coaches and club leaders have to make do with what they have, no longer having the money to "spend lavishly" on players as we used to see, and have to accept making do with what they have, just getting by day by day.

Fortunately for V.League, there are still a few teams with "new owners" who need to polish their brand and achievements, such as Ho Chi Minh City FC and FLC Thanh Hoa, who are determined to invest in the hope of experiencing the feeling of winning the V.League championship – something that some previous owners were very enthusiastic about but now feel "enough is enough"!