Who will replace Coach Mai Duc Chung to lead the Vietnamese women's national team?

Coach Mai Duc Chung has officially concluded his journey with Vietnamese women's football. The question now is who will have the heart and vision to replace this seasoned coach in the near future?

Will Coach Hoang Van Phuc succeed Mr. Mai Duc Chung?

After SEA Games 33, Coach Mai Duc Chung agreed to extend his contract for another 4 months to lead the Vietnamese women's national team until the end of the 2026 Women's Asian Cup. However, the team's failure to advance past the group stage officially ended his journey as the head coach.

Under Mr. Chung's leadership, Vietnamese women's football achieved many historic milestones, most notably securing a ticket to the Women's World Cup for the first time. Therefore, finding a replacement is not only a professional challenge but also a major task in maintaining the team's stability.

Among the current options, Coach Hoang Van Phuc is considered a prominent candidate. The coach born in 1964 has many years of experience in men's football, having led clubs such as Quang Nam, Hanoi ACB, and Saigon FC. Notably, he helped Quang Nam Club win the V-League 2017 and also coached the U23 Vietnam team at SEA Games 2013.

Recently, Mr. Phuc was added to the coaching staff of the Vietnamese women's national team as an assistant to Coach Mai Duc Chung during preparations for SEA Games 33. This is seen as a stepping stone for a gradual transition process.

Coach Mai Duc Chung himself once stated that if he had to choose a successor from the current coaching staff, he could place his trust in Hoang Van Phuc. However, the challenge for this coach is that his time working with the women's national team is still relatively short, so more time is needed to adapt and build cohesion with the team.

Besides Hoang Van Phuc, Vietnamese women's football still has some notable figures. Among them is former star player Van Thi Thanh – who is currently coaching Thai Nguyen T&T Club and is the first Vietnamese female coach to hold an AFC Pro license. Another female coach who was also considered by VFF and holds a Pro license is Phan Thi Anh Dao, who is working at a club in... Australia.

Another candidate is Doan Thi Kim Chi. This former national team player has proven her capability by helping Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club win multiple national championships and making an impact on the continental stage. Currently, Kim Chi is also an assistant for the Vietnamese women's national team and has deep knowledge of the squad. However, not completing some coaching certificates required by AFC remains a barrier for her.

Additionally, assistants like Doan Minh Hai or some other female coaches in the coaching staff have good expertise, but to take on the role of head coach of the national team, they still need more time to accumulate experience.

Other candidates such as Van Thi Thanh, Doan Kim Chi, and Doan Minh Hai could also be targeted

Previously, VFF considered appointing Japanese coach Akira Ijiri – who worked with Vietnamese women's youth teams from 2019 to 2024. However, this deal did not materialize because he came to Vietnam under a cooperation program between the Japan Football Association and VFF, and the Japanese side believed he was not suitable to lead the national team.

In the context of Vietnamese women's football aiming to compete for a World Cup ticket in the future, the possibility of VFF seeking a foreign coach is also a considered option if domestic choices do not meet the requirements.

After the Mai Duc Chung era concludes, the head coach position of the Vietnamese women's national team will certainly become a topic of interest in the near future, as VFF must find someone capable enough to continue the successes he built.