Securing a solid 11-point lead at the top of the league table with only three rounds remaining, Hanoi Police FC officially became the new V-League champions. The team's further goal under coach Polking is to achieve high results in international competitions and affirm their continental standing in the next season.
Crowned twice in 3 years after its re-establishment.
Hanoi Police and Nam Dinh Green Steel are two teams with a packed schedule in the 2025-2026 season, participating in all four domestic and international competitions: V-League, National Cup, Southeast Asian Champions League, and AFC Champions League Two. Because they have to compete on multiple fronts simultaneously, it's not surprising that these two V-League giants have started the season slowly and haven't had a smooth beginning.
Hanoi Police FC (left) aims for high goals in the continent (Photo: VPF)
Unlike Nam Dinh FC, the Police team knows how to maintain their form and rotate their squad effectively, thus consistently ranking in the top 3 of the V-League standings. From the second half of the season, after being eliminated from the National Cup, the Southeast Asian Champions League, and the AFC Champions League Two, Coach Polking's team focused their attention on the V-League, achieving impressive victories to claim the top spot in the standings.
Possessing a squad of top-quality V-League stars, Hanoi Police FC quickly surged ahead to the finish line with a record of 19 wins and 3 draws after 23 rounds. This also marks the second time the police team has won the V-League title since its re-establishment in 2023.
The goal is to break the total score record.
The V-League 2025-2026 title seems insufficient to satisfy the expectations of the home fans. Previously, Hanoi Police FC was one of the few teams heavily invested in both personnel and operating funds with the goal of advancing deep into international competitions. Currently, with a core squad including names like Quang Hai, Van Hau, Dinh Trong, Van Thanh, Viet Anh, Dinh Bac, Thanh Long, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, and Nguyen Filip…, Hanoi Police FC is considered a mini-national team.
Besides the domestic players, including Vietnamese national team members, the Hanoi Police FC management also spared no expense in bringing in high-class foreign players: Alan Sebastiao, Leo Artur, Stefan Mauk, Rosa Nascimento, Rogerio Alves, and Hugo Gomes to strengthen the team's professional quality. Quickly attracting fans with their flamboyant and diverse attacking style, Coach Polking's team disappointed by being eliminated early in the group stage of the Southeast Asian Champions League, and knocked out in the round of 16 of both the AFC Champions League Two and the National Cup.
Having achieved their goal of winning both the V-League and the National Super Cup, Hanoi Police FC is also aiming to break the record for total points in a single V-League season. In 2018, Hanoi FC became the champion team with the highest total points in V-League history with 64 points. After 23 rounds, Hanoi Police FC has 60 points and is only 4 points away from that historic milestone.
Building a brand in the region
Having become the new V-League champions, Hanoi Police FC will represent Vietnamese football in Asia's highest-level competition, the AFC Champions League Elite (Asian Champions League). Coach Polking's team will begin their journey in the tournament from the play-off round, and if they advance, they will participate in the main group stage.
In addition, the V-League champions will also participate in the ASEAN Club Championship. Speaking about his future plans, striker Nguyen Dinh Bac affirmed his determination to maintain his high level of performance when participating in the Asian competition next season.
"Coach Polking has a lot of experience. Working with him, I and the whole team learned a great deal, from a professional standpoint. He is helpful to the club and to Vietnamese football as a whole," Đình Bắc commented on the Brazilian-born strategist.
In the domestic league, Hanoi Police FC has consistently been considered a title contender for the past three years. However, the ultimate goal for Coach Polking and his team is to elevate Vietnamese football to a higher level on the continental stage. Despite having three strikers in the top five of the V-League's top scorers list and being the highest-scoring team this season, Hanoi Police FC often reveals weaknesses in their defense due to fatigue from playing a demanding schedule.
With key players suffering persistent injuries and a reserve squad of varying skill levels, Hanoi Police FC's core team is thin as the tournament enters its crucial stages. Therefore, to achieve a high milestone in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026-2027, Polking's team needs to strengthen its squad with strong foreign players who can effectively integrate with the domestic players to implement their tactical strategies smoothly.
Coach Polking emphasized: "We always need to dominate at home and we want to win the V-League every year, every season. Now, we have the opportunity to compete in the AFC Champions League Elite. There, we want to showcase the quality that this squad possesses."
"Mr. Polking is pleased that Hanoi Police FC's attacking football philosophy has proven effective, making them one of the most formidable attacking clubs in the V-League, and he also wants to make his mark in the AFC Champions League Elite competition."
Source: https://nld.com.vn/tan-vuong-v-league-va-khat-vong-bien-lon-196260518211751303.htm
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