The challenge is not easy for new coaches.

The V-League 2025-2026 season is entering its final stages and becoming incredibly intense, witnessing new coaches taking charge and experiencing various ups and downs.

Will changing the general change the fortunes?

Round 22 of the V-League 2025-2026 saw a series of coaching changes. Hong Linh Ha Tinh FC replaced coach Nguyen Cong Manh with coach Phan Nhu Thuat, while Ho Chi Minh City Police FC parted ways with coach Le Huynh Duc and appointed Phung Thanh Phuong as the new head coach. At Lach Tray Stadium, coach Chu Dinh Nghiem was reassigned to the role of Technical Director, while assistant coach Dang Van Thanh took over as head coach of Hai Phong FC. As a result, both Ha Tinh FC and Hai Phong FC suffered defeats, 0-2 against The Cong Viettel and 1-2 against Ninh Binh FC respectively.

Only coach Phùng Thanh Phương had reason to celebrate when Tiến Linh scored again after 15 matches, securing a 3-1 victory against SLNA. However, in round 23, things took a different turn as Hải Phòng FC achieved a resounding 4-2 win against Becamex TP.HCM, while Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh convincingly defeated HAGL 2-0 at Pleiku Arena. Interestingly, it was coach Phùng Thanh Phương's turn to feel regret after the 2-2 draw against bottom-placed Đà Nẵng , despite playing at home in Bình Dương.

Coach Hua Hien Vinh (third from the left) made his debut for Becamex TP.HCM in round 23 with a defeat against Hai Phong Club, who had also changed coaches in the previous round.

Photo: Pham Ky Luat

Also in round 23, Becamex TP.HCM debuted their new head coach, Hua Hien Vinh, with a match where their attack scored 2 goals but their defense conceded 4.

Throughout its history, the V-League has followed a unique pattern: the "changing coaches changes fortunes." However, this seems to have lost its effectiveness in the 2025-2026 V-League season, as all four new coaches who took over in rounds 22 and 23 have experienced mixed results and failed to create a real breakthrough. This highlights the immense pressure on teams competing for success. Naturally, the pressure is even greater on those who bravely take on the hot seat at teams that are currently adrift.

The pressure to perform is too great.

By this point in the 2025-2026 V-League season, 10 out of 14 teams have had to change coaches, with Ninh Binh FC, Nam Dinh FC, and Becamex Ho Chi Minh City FC having changed managers multiple times. Hanoi FC, currently ranked 4th, is considered unsatisfactory as coach Harry Kewell's revolution is still incomplete. Ninh Binh FC replaced coach Albadalejo with coach Vu Tien Thanh, but shortly after, Thanh was promoted to Technical Director to make way for coach Bae Ji-won. In the last four rounds, Ninh Binh FC has achieved a record of wins, draws, and losses. PVF-CAND replaced coach Nguyen Thanh Cong with coach Tran Tien Dai from round 15 onwards, but has yet to improve, remaining at the bottom of the table and trailing Da Nang FC in the play-off race.

Of the four teams that retained their coaches from the start of the season, Hanoi Police FC won the championship three rounds early with an attacking style of play developed by coach Mano Polking since 2024. Second-placed The Cong Viettel had already started training with coach Velizar Popov from the previous season. At HAGL, coach Le Quang Trai persistently nurtured the young players trained by HAGL itself. Da Nang FC was very close to changing coaches, but patiently waited until the last minute because the whole team strongly supported coach Le Duc Tuan. The four teams that did not change coaches, including two top-ranked clubs and two clubs battling relegation, can be seen as a sign of stability.

Commentator Vu Quang Huy assessed: "Hanoi Police FC and The Cong Viettel FC haven't changed coaches because of their strong foundation and long-term commitment to talented coaches like Polking and Popov. HAGL and Da Nang FC haven't changed coaches because of limited resources, accepting to build on what they have. Conversely, Ninh Binh FC has invested heavily and changed coaches frequently because they are new to the V-League and need time to find stability. Looking at the bigger picture, I feel that the V-League is still dominated by a reactive football culture, lacking names who 'dare to do, dare to play, dare to take responsibility' or clubs that build long-term strategies. Among these, the role of Technical Directors remains too vague, sometimes even just to legitimize AFC qualification requirements or even as a 'backup' ready to replace head coaches. This increases the pressure on coaches, and sometimes parting ways is simply a matter of needing a change."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thu-thach-khong-de-dang-cho-cac-hlv-moi-185260518212057864.htm