VFF Vice President Nguyen Xuan Vu presents a commemorative plaque to Coach Guillaume Graechen.
Photo: Linh Nhi
Honoring the exceptional coach of Vietnamese football.
Following the series of activities in Hanoi , the Nutifood 2026 Children's Football Festival took place at Hoa Lu Stadium (Ho Chi Minh City) on May 16-17, 2026, coinciding with the awarding of the "For the Cause of Vietnamese Football" commemorative medal to Coach Guillaume Graechen after 20 years of dedication to Vietnamese football.
Arriving in Vietnam in 2007 with the mission to change the way youth football training is done, Coach Guillaume Graechen not only directly coaches but also participates in discovering and nurturing many young talents, while building a foundation of discipline, competitive mindset, and fair-play spirit for the trainees.
Under the dedicated, passionate, and responsible guidance of Coach Guillaume Graechen, many generations of famous Vietnamese football stars have emerged, such as Cong Phuong, Tuan Anh, Xuan Truong, Ly Duc, Nhat Minh, Quoc Viet, etc.
In recognition of Coach Guillaume Graechen's enduring contributions over nearly 20 years of dedicated service, leaving a lasting impression, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has respectfully presented him with the "For the Cause of Vietnamese Football" commemorative medal as an official acknowledgment.
The coach received flowers from Cong Phuong...
Photo: Linh Nhi
The students paid tribute to their teacher Giom on this special day at Hoa Lu Stadium.
Photo: Linh Nhi
During the Nutifood 2026 Children's Football Festival in Ho Chi Minh City, VFF Vice President Nguyen Xuan Vu personally performed the award ceremony and shared: "Although holding French citizenship, Coach Guillaume Graechen has worked in Vietnam for two decades, contributing to the training of many generations of quality players."
He also laid the foundation for modern training methods, aligned with the long-term development direction of youth football. His contributions are enduring, profound, and deserve to be honored."
Present at the event, national team player Nguyen Nhat Minh, representing generations of students, emotionally expressed his gratitude: "For us, the coach is not only a football instructor but also a guide who shows us how to play beautifully and effectively."
"The lessons from our coach have stayed with us throughout our professional careers. His honor today is a source of pride for all his students. Personally, I feel very fortunate to have been his student, to have been trained by him since I was a young boy of 11 or 12 in this mountain town."
Japanese player Nhat Minh signs autographs for young fans.
Photo: Linh Nhi
Young players from the area interacted with Nutifood.
Photo: Linh Nhi
Not only Nhật Minh, but many players who matured under the guidance and training of Coach Giôm, such as Công Phượng, Đông Triều, etc., were also present to congratulate him, creating a meaningful reunion between teachers and students who had been together for many years, from the early days of barefoot football practice at Hàm Rồng.
Nutifood's 2026 Children's Football Festival continues to discover future talents.
Alongside the awards ceremony, the Nutifood Kids Football Festival 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City continues to provide an experiential and selection space for young football enthusiasts. The coaching staff will select the most outstanding players to advance to the knockout round held in Gia Lai province.
This is considered an important stepping stone on the journey to becoming an official student of the Nutifood Football Academy, where children are given the opportunity to receive full scholarships for training in a professional coaching environment, combined with a structured nutrition regimen to become future football stars.
In addition to recruitment activities, the Nutifood Kids Football Festival 2026 also features many exciting interactive football activities for children, such as: The dribbling and shooting challenge, the transforming tunnel, the nutrition academy, nutritional counseling, interaction with famous players, and participation in a football class led by coach Guillaume Graechen.
Over two days, the program attracted thousands of families and children to participate in exciting experiences. Through this event, Nutifood not only discovered new talents but also spread a love of sports , contributing to building a foundation of physical and mental health for future generations.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thay-cua-cong-phuong-ly-duc-duoc-vff-vinh-danh-dac-biet-185260517195824718.htm
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