Harry Kewell is a bold experiment for Hanoi FC

Harry Kewell came to Vietnam to work.

The frank comments of Dan Orlowitz, a journalist specializing in Japanese football, who used to work for The Japan Times , partly depict the challenging journey of Harry Kewell - a former Liverpool player, now officially becoming the head coach of Hanoi Football Club.

On the morning of October 4, the capital football team announced the appointment of an Australian coach, who won the UEFA Champions League 2004/2005 with Liverpool. This is considered a symbolic turning point, demonstrating Hanoi FC's determination to professionalize and integrate with the regional football environment.

However, before coming to Vietnam, Kewell had a short period leading Yokohama F. Marinos in J.League - a period that Orlowitz described as “a difficult tenure where he did not have many conditions to succeed”. This journalist said that Marinos at that time “fell into chaos, and the results after Kewell left were not better”.

“There are reports that he lost control of the dressing room – although that is still disputed – and the board was not happy with his public attitude towards referees or the reaction of the fans,” Orlowitz told Tri Thuc - Znews.

According to the American writer, the biggest reason lies in the financial situation: “From 2022, Marinos have almost no transfer budget. Kevin Muscat won the championship that year with almost 'a box of scrap metal'. The fact that they are still competing for the championship until the end of the 2023 season is a miracle. When Muscat left and Kewell was chosen, it felt like the club only did so because they believed in the formula 'Australian coaches used to be effective'”.

These comments are not meant to undermine Kewell’s ability, but rather to reflect the bigger picture – a young coach learning to adapt to a harsh environment. Before Yokohama, Kewell worked in England with Crawley Town, Oldham Athletic and Barnet, and also spent time as assistant to Ange Postecoglou at Celtic, where he was exposed to modern European football philosophy.

Now, as he begins his journey in Vietnam, Hanoi FC is the next chapter in Kewell’s fledgling coaching career. The most successful club in the V.League is aiming to build a more modern, disciplined and effective playing style, along with the aspiration to reach the continental level.

While in Yokohama he had to work in a disoriented and underfunded group, in Hanoi Kewell has a more stable foundation: a quality squad, a strong youth training center and support from the board of directors. However, great expectations also mean great pressure - because V.League is entering a fiercely competitive period, where every experiment is scrutinized.

From failures in Japan to opportunities in Vietnam, Harry Kewell’s journey is a reminder that a coaching career requires more than just fame, it also requires character and adaptability. This time, in the purple jersey of Hanoi FC, he has the chance to prove he is ready.

Source: https://znews.vn/harry-kewell-la-phep-thu-tao-bao-cua-ha-noi-fc-post1590659.html