 |
Coach Harry Kewell was appointed to the head coach position at Hanoi FC on the morning of October 4th. |
On the morning of October 4th, the capital city's football team officially appointed a former Australian football legend to replace Technical Director Yusuke Adachi, who had been acting as interim director for the last three rounds.
Hanoi's new head coach needs time to adapt.
"No matter how impressive Coach Harry Kewell's resume is, he still needs time to adapt to the environment and the harsh realities of the V.League. Even inviting Coach Jose Mourinho or Coach Pep Guardiola now wouldn't guarantee a good fit, because we have to wait and see if they're a good fit," football expert Doan Minh Xuong shared with Tri Thuc - Znews after Hanoi FC announced the appointment of Coach Harry Kewell.
Notably, Hanoi's new head coach boasts an impressive resume. Specifically, Coach Harry Kewell was once one of the brightest stars of Australian football. He earned 56 caps for the national team, scoring 17 goals and participating in two World Cups (2006, 2010). At the club level, Coach Harry Kewell played for Leeds United and Liverpool.
Having transitioned to coaching in 2017, Harry Kewell began his career with English clubs such as Crawley Town, Notts County, Oldham Athletic, and Barnet. In 2022, he joined Celtic (Scotland) as an assistant to manager Ange Postecoglou. In early 2024, he became the manager of Yokohama F. Marinos and in his first season led the team to a runner-up finish in the AFC Champions League.
The capital club has high expectations for the new signing: “With his experience in Europe both as a player and coach, manager Harry Kewell is expected to bring a fresh perspective, contributing to elevating the team's level in its pursuit of domestic goals and its ambition to reach continental heights.”
However, coach Doan Minh Xuong believes that even the most impressive resume needs time to adapt to the harsh realities of the V.League, which is considered a coach-churning machine. A clear example is that after only the first five rounds, three coaches were unable to remain in the race, including former Hanoi FC coach Makoto Teguramori.
This season, Hanoi FC's goal was to win at least one tournament to celebrate the team's 20th anniversary. However, after the first three rounds of the V.League 2025/26, the capital city team only managed one draw and two losses, and were eliminated early in the National Cup qualifying round. This performance made coach Makoto Teguramori the first coach to lose his job in the 2025/26 season.
Before coach Harry Kewell arrived, Technical Director Yusuke Adachi was given temporary charge and helped Hanoi win 5 points after 3 matches, which was somewhat positive. But to achieve long-term goals, Hanoi still needs a permanent head coach with sufficient leadership and influence.
 |
Coach Harry Kewell will make his debut in the match against Ninh Binh in Round 7 of the V.League 2025/26. |
First challenge
The capital city team emphasized: "The arrival of a big name, once famous in the Premier League and a World Cup competitor, in Hanoi is also proof of our appeal and ambition to rise to the top. This is the foundation for building a modern identity, aiming towards the continent."
According to expert Doan Minh Xuong, coach Harry Kewell's journey in the V.League is not easy. However, Hanoi still has many opportunities. He said: "The road is long, the V.League has only gone through 6 rounds and Hanoi has already won 2 matches. The chance to win the championship still exists, because after all, they have been a big team for almost two decades."
The advantage for the coach born in 1978 is that he has two weeks of FIFA Days to get to know his players, impart his coaching methods, and test tactics. This is considered "golden time" for him to better understand the team before officially starting the season.
On October 18th, coach Harry Kewell will make his debut at Hang Day Stadium when Hanoi FC hosts Ninh Binh in Round 7. The team from the former capital city is currently leading the league table with 14 points after 6 rounds. This match is considered an important test for coach Harry Kewell on his journey back into the championship race for the capital city team.
Source: https://znews.vn/harry-kewell-giua-lo-xay-vleague-post1590699.html
Comment (0)