Lessons for the VFF from Coach Troussier's failure: A crisis stemming from words.

The crisis for the Vietnamese national team under coach Philippe Troussier began not only on the pitch, but also in the press conference room, with conflicts between him and the media.

It's no coincidence that the criteria of "cultural compatibility, open-mindedness, and acceptance of differences" are the top priorities for the Vietnam Football Federation in its search for a replacement for Coach Troussier. The French coach's failure in Vietnam must be viewed broadly beyond the football field.

Coach Troussier parted ways with the Vietnamese national team after just over a year, despite his initial contract being valid until 2026.

The issue of performance is only one part of the crisis that the Vietnamese national team and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) have to deal with after parting ways with coach Troussier. That crisis is the media crisis. It has been a long time since the Vietnamese national team has been in this state, with opinions directed towards the team and the federation being almost entirely negative.

That tense atmosphere was created in large part by coach Troussier, and it wasn't just about results. Troussier didn't just bring poor results on the pitch. Off the field, he created a suffocating atmosphere, making shocking statements that surprised his players, the media, and the fans alike.

The experience under Troussier showed a completely different style from Coach Park Hang Seo and, more broadly, from all other Asian coaches. The French coach possessed a decisive, straightforward personality, unafraid to engage in dialogue about sensitive issues, such as when he said that 80% of fans did not support him, when he stated that many people were waiting for the VFF to fire him, or when he publicly said that Hoang Duc could win the Golden Ball but was not yet suitable for the national team...

Coach Troussier's statements over the past six months have consistently put him at odds with public opinion.

Statements like these could be found frequently under coach Troussier, turning every press conference into a battle and generating a series of unnecessary controversies, negatively impacting him, his players, the media, and the fans.

Perhaps that was Troussier's way of diverting criticism away from his players and the professional aspects of the game. However, when performance on the field is poor, that controversy becomes a catalyst, making the criticism even more intense.

Discerning observers will notice that the Vietnamese national team has long since fallen out of favor with coaches from Europe. Before Troussier, the most recent European coach was Falko Goetz, more than 10 years ago. Goetz also left after a disappointing six months.

The vast cultural differences seem to be a common denominator among these coaches. This isn't unique to Vietnam. In Park Hang Seo's homeland, coach Jurgen Klinsmann also faced numerous criticisms before being sacked. Even seasoned coaches like Carlos Queiroz were criticized for "spending too much time in Europe instead of focusing on working in Iran."

That's probably the reason for the return of local coaches across Asia. Of the top six teams in the continent, five employ foreign coaches. Roberto Mancini in Saudi Arabia is the only foreign coach in this group.

Unlike at the club level, the national team is a collection of many talented players from various clubs in a short period of time, most of whom have strong personalities and receive special attention from a large fan base. Therefore, coaching the national team requires prioritizing teamwork alongside regular coaching. Compared to foreign coaches, this is an area where domestic coaches can excel.

Of course, that doesn't mean the Vietnamese national team also needs a new domestic coach. It only shows that cultural differences and the issue of public statements must be given special attention in the VFF's search for a new head coach.

Specific rules regarding speech, what should be said, what should be said, and what shouldn't be said, are nothing new in sports , a prime example being the principle of confidentiality and the figures in contracts.

"Perhaps we need to reconsider how we treat the coach. We are the owners, he is an employee, we should be able to control him. Choosing him was probably not wrong, but it seems we haven't been able to control him. He has weaknesses, but we haven't addressed them in time," said Le Huy Khoa, who previously worked with the Vietnamese national team as an assistant and communication liaison to coach Park Hang Seo.

Naturally, the national team head coach needs to have autonomy in making decisions, and the VFF (Vietnam Football Federation) shouldn't interfere too much. However, that doesn't mean the VFF should give the coach complete freedom to do whatever he wants. There needs to be a "soft" approach to control, for example, regarding his statements.

Guiding public opinion is also essential in the context of the ever-growing social media and press, where every careless statement can become fodder for social media, stirring up unnecessary conflicts. This happened a lot during Troussier's time in office.

The VFF (Vietnam Football Federation) has certainly paid a heavy price for this lesson under coach Troussier. Now it's time for them to show they've learned from this experience.

Thanh Ha

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