Hanoi coach Harry Kewell: 'Having Robbie Fowler as a close friend, I will understand Asian football better'

At the launching ceremony of Hanoi FC, Coach Harry Kewell shared his inspiration, pressure and close relationship with former player Robbie Fowler. Meanwhile, Hanoi FC President Do Vinh Quang shared the journey of bringing the Australian legend to Vietnam.

The arduous journey that brought the legendary Harry Kewell to Hanoi : Hope to become a good 'chef'

Mr. Do Vinh Quang said that inviting coach Harry Kewell to Hanoi was the result of a long and challenging process. According to him, working with a coach with a big brand is not simple.

“Kewell is a world-class coach with experience in leading many clubs and having led a Japanese team to the Champions League final. This is the key to the relationship between the two sides. Without that interest, there would be no opportunity to approach and exchange.

The journey to bring coach Kewell to Vietnam was not easy.

Photo: Giang An

Ms. Gillian Bird - Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, attended the launching ceremony

Photo: Giang An

He has a very professional team of representatives who are confident in every clause. It took us a long time to finalize every detail before successfully convincing Coach Kewell to come to Vietnam,” the President of Hanoi Club shared.

Chairman of Hanoi Club - Do Vinh Quang, speaking at the ceremony

Photo: Giang An

Mr. Do Vinh Quang said that Hanoi FC has worked with many coaches from different football backgrounds, but Harry Kewell is considered the most suitable person. According to him, the Australian coach is very professional, has a thorough understanding of the club and is not in a hurry to change but focuses on the training process. When asked about the team, Kewell said that he cannot make an assessment based only on matches, but needs to work directly with the players on the training ground to observe and give more accurate comments.

Coach Kewell at the launch ceremony on the afternoon of October 9

Photo: Giang An

2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of Hanoi FC, but the team has had a turbulent season. The club is currently ranked 6th in the V-League standings this season after 6 rounds.

“Hanoi have had difficulties since the beginning of the season, but that is a positive thing because other teams have risen, making the tournament more competitive. Despite the difficulties, I believe football has a cycle - and it is when you hit rock bottom that you bounce back stronger. I hope the team will soon adapt to the new coach. With the current ingredients, I hope Mr. Kewell will be a good chef,” Mr. Quang shared.

Harry Kewell: "Pressure gives me inspiration"

Sharing about his decision to come to Vietnam, coach Harry Kewell said he was impressed by the aspirations and direction of Hanoi Club.

“When I had the opportunity to negotiate with Hanoi FC, based on their ambition, I felt very excited. Hanoi wants to build its identity and pride. This is not an easy job, but I want to enjoy this challenge. I want to convey to the players the spirit of learning every day to improve themselves. That is the way of working I always pursue,” he shared.

Hanoi FC's new journey with the Australian legend has begun

Photo: Giang An

Coach Kewell is not afraid of pressure, that is the inspiration for him to try

Photo: Giang An

Talking about the pressure in the new environment, the Australian coach affirmed: “For me, football always has pressure. When I came to Hanoi, I knew every little detail had to be done well. I always try my best every day and expect the players to do the same. Pressure brings me excitement. I looked forward to that when I decided to come here.”

Before officially accepting the job, Coach Kewell watched many of Hanoi's matches and had a direct meeting with the board of directors.

With a new journey with the Australian legend, Hanoi FC is looking towards a stable and bright future.

Photo: Giang An

“I have prepared very carefully, discussed with the Club President about the development direction. Of course, there is still a lot to do. Yesterday I met with the players, and outlined three key factors to achieve good results: clarity in information, concentration and learning attitude. The tournament is about to return, time is urgent, so we have to work harder,” he said.

Regarding football philosophy, coach Harry Kewell said he does not follow a fixed model, but depends on the players he has to build a suitable playing style. According to him, every team wants to play like Man City or Liverpool, but that takes time. Kewell affirmed that he is always a coach who knows how to adapt to the situation, aiming for the most beautiful and effective football.

Coach Kewell had a training session and got acquainted with the Hanoi Club players before.

Photo: Giang An

He also emphasized his serious working spirit: "I enjoy every moment, constantly learning to help the team achieve good results. This is a big challenge, but I am ready and will work hard with all respect for Hanoi Club."

Friendship with Robbie Fowler - a bridge to Asian football

Over the past year, Coach Kewell has taken a break from football-related work, but during that time he has maintained the habit of learning and seeking inspiration from friends in the football world.

"I always try to learn more and bring new ideas. Robbie Fowler is a close friend of mine, I know he has a lot of experience with Asian football," he shared.

Robbie Fowler was a close teammate of Harry Kewell during his time at Liverpool. After retiring, Fowler played and coached in the Thai Premier League with Muang Thong United.

Robbie Fowler has played and coached in Asia

PHOTO: REUTERS

With the combination of the vision of the Hanoi FC leadership and the modern coaching philosophy of Harry Kewell, the capital team is expected to regain its position in the V-League and go further in the continental arena. Coach Kewell will make his V-League debut in the match against Ninh Binh FC on October 18. The first challenge will be extremely stressful as Ninh Binh is in very good form and is at the top of the V-League rankings after 6 rounds.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hlv-ha-noi-harry-kewell-co-robbie-fowler-la-ban-than-toi-se-hieu-hon-bong-da-chau-a-185251009164044962.htm