Hanoi FC and the desire to reach new heights

Hanoi Football Club President Do Vinh Quang (left) and new coach Harry Kewell on the day of his debut - Photo: HNFC

A turning point in long-term development strategy

The fact that a world football icon like Harry Kewell came to work in Vietnam goes beyond the framework of a coaching contract. It is a declaration of the aspiration to rise, of the professional mindset and long-term vision that Hanoi FC is steadfastly pursuing.

Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of T&T Group , Chairman of Hanoi FC Do Vinh Quang said: "2025 is the 20th anniversary of Hanoi FC's establishment. With the presence of coach Harry Kewell, Hanoi FC hopes that the team will have a systematic development, realizing the goal of reaching the continental level in the next 20 years. Approaching a high-class coach like Harry Kewell is not easy and the capital team had to spend a lot of time negotiating, exchanging and getting the nod. Harry Kewell's only goal when coming to Hanoi is to win with Hanoi FC".

Hanoi FC Chairman speaks at the head coach's introduction ceremony. Photo: Hanoi FC

In the 2000s, Harry Kewell was a famous name in Australian football and the Premier League - he reached the semi-finals of the Champions League 2000-2001 with Leeds United, and won the Champions League 2004-2005 with Liverpool. After retiring, he embarked on a coaching career, leading Crawley Town, Oldham Athletic, Barnet and working as an assistant coach at Celtic (Scotland) before becoming the head coach of Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan), helping the team win the runner-up position in the AFC Champions League 2023-2024.

Now, when arriving in Hanoi, Harry Kewell brings with him a huge amount of baggage from the Premier League environment - a foundation of tactical thinking, football culture and discipline, which Vietnamese football is craving to transform.

Coach Harry Kewell shared, “To be the captain of one of the most successful clubs in Vietnam is an honor for me. I have a lot of experience as a player and a coach, but Vietnam is always very special when we talk about football.

“The first time I talked to the board, Hanoi FC had a clear ambition, not just to win but to build an identity, which made me extremely excited. Hanoi FC is a team with a long history of achievements and fans always expect the best from this club. I know Hanoi always wait for titles and I accept that pressure. That is what makes football more loved. I will also try to focus on improving every day. If we can do everything in the right way, from training standards, mentality, solidarity, then great results will come to us,” the Australian captain affirmed.

Building a sustainable foundation, towards international standards

After a series of unsatisfactory opening matches in the 2025-2026 V.League, Hanoi FC has changed three coaches after only 5 rounds. Therefore, signing a contract with coach Harry Kewell is expected to bring Hanoi back to the goal of leading the V.League and conquering the Asian arena.

Hanoi FC is the most successful team in Vietnamese professional football for nearly 2 decades. However, in the past 3 years, Hanoi has suffered a "brain drain" when a series of players trained by themselves left, such as Quang Hai, Viet Anh, Van Hau... The capital team has also changed many coaches from Japan and Korea, but the results are still not as expected. Currently, Hanoi FC is temporarily ranked 6th after round 6 of V-League 2025-2026 with 8 points.

Chairman of Hanoi Football Club Do Vinh Quang affirmed: “Hanoi Football Club is entering a new phase – a phase of modern thinking, discipline and professionalism. The appointment of Mr. Harry Kewell is part of a long-term strategy for the Club to transform itself according to international standards. We do not focus on short-term achievements, but focus on building a sustainable foundation, helping Hanoi FC to compete fairly at the regional and continental levels in the future. The consistent philosophy that Hanoi FC has maintained for nearly two decades is: “At Hanoi Football Club, there is only one star – the team. No one is bigger than the club, no one is above the spirit of solidarity and humility. I believe that Mr. Harry Kewell – with a European mindset and a heart for collective values – will sympathize and continue this tradition,” Mr. Do Vinh Quang emphasized.

Coach Kewell accepts the challenge and pressure. Photo: HNFC

For his part, coach Harry Kewell expressed his excitement at starting a new journey in Vietnam. The Australian coach emphasized that his goal is not only to bring titles, but also to help Vietnamese players develop comprehensively: "I want to create excitement for the players, this brings me to Hanoi FC. For me, football is not a challenge but a learning. I want to convey to the players that they have to learn every day to improve better. That is my way of working. Football always has pressure. When coming to Hanoi, the daily details must be done well. I always try every day, hoping that the pressure can help me create excitement," the new captain of Hanoi affirmed.

He added: "Yesterday, I had a meeting with the players and outlined three key things to be able to achieve good results. As a coach, the most important thing is to give clear information, I want the players to understand what I want. The tournament is coming back, the time is quite urgent and then the break, we need to work harder."

Coach Harry Kewell was born in 1978, had an illustrious playing career when playing for Leeds United and Liverpool, winning the UEFA Champions League 2004-2005 and the FA Cup 2005-2006. At the national team level, he played 56 times for the Australian team, scored 17 goals and participated in 2 World Cups (2006, 2010).

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/ha-noi-fc-va-khat-vong-vuon-tam-719055.html