'I don't mind the pressure'

On the morning of September 30th, Thai Nguyen T&T Women's Club announced the signing of coach Van Thi Thanh. The former 2003 Vietnamese Golden Ball winner will take on the position of head coach, while Doan Viet Trieu will step down to become assistant coach. Thai Nguyen T&T Women's Team also added former goalkeeper Dang Thi Kieu Trinh of the Vietnamese women's national team to the position of goalkeeping coach.

From October 3rd to 7th, coach Van Thi Thanh will debut with her new team in an international friendly tournament featuring Beijing FC (China), Manila Digger FC (Philippines), Hanoi FC , and Thai Nguyen T&T. In an interview, the first female coach in Vietnam to hold an AFC Pro license affirmed her commitment to fulfilling her duties.

Coach Van Thi Thanh joins Thai Nguyen T&T Club.

"Having been a player myself, I understand my players."

- What goals has the leadership of Thai Nguyen T&T Club set for you this season?

Thai Nguyen T&T Club has made progress recently, as evidenced by their historic bronze medal (third place) at the 2024 National Championship. I want to continue developing the team with the players, maintaining our position in the top 3 women's football teams in Vietnam. This is the goal that the leadership has set for us.

Being a head coach always comes with pressure, but I'm not afraid to face it; I'm always ready to overcome it.

- You're the first female coach in Vietnam to have an AFC Pro license, but coaching in real-world situations is a different matter. Are you mentally prepared?

From 2010 to 2016, I worked in professional football as the head coach of Phong Phu Ha Nam team. During that period, 10-15 years ago, women's football in Vietnam was just developing, so someone with less experience like me could handle the role.

After 10 years, I participated in the AFC Pro course and worked as an instructor for the VFF's C-level coaching course to gain experience. However, women's football has developed further. The progress of football is cyclical, spread out year by year, so as someone working in football, I have to keep up with it.

Van Thi Thanh is one of the few Vietnamese coaches to hold an AFC Pro license.

I've taught coaching classes, worked with youth football, and served as an assistant coach for the Vietnamese women's national team... But being the head coach for an ambitious team like Thai Nguyen T&T is a tough challenge. I've prepared myself mentally and put in my best effort.

With the help of the coaching staff, I will be able to move forward on my journey, shortening the time it takes to integrate into Thai Nguyen women's football.

- In women's football, will female coaches have an advantage over male coaches?

By accepting the coaching position at Thai Nguyen T&T Club, I wanted to elevate the role of female players, then retire and become a head coach, continuing to contribute to Vietnamese football.

For example, Coach Doan Thi Kim Chi rose through the ranks as a player, then won many championships with the Ho Chi Minh City women's club as head coach. I have a lot to learn from Coach Kim Chi. She was very successful as a player and has also proven her capabilities as a coach.

I want to follow a similar path. As a player, I proved myself. So, as a coach, with my playing experience and knowledge gained from coaching courses, this is the time for me to succeed.

Women's and men's football are fundamentally not much different, and coaching female or male players is the same. The only difference, if any, is speed. I used to be a player, so I understand the psychology of female players better.

However, male coaches also have their own advantages. Combining male and female coaches in the coaching staff is the best approach. Don't think that men should only do this job, or women should only do that job. Once you're in the job, gender doesn't matter. You must train together to create a good team. A united coaching staff will give players peace of mind to strive for excellence.

- Are you worried about the pressure from the expectations of the management and fans?

In football, success and failure are always intertwined. You might succeed today, but you could fail tomorrow. That's my motto since I started my football career.

I'm not afraid of failure. I always strive and only care about what I can do to contribute to the Thai Nguyen T&T women's club.

Coach Van Thi Thanh aims to keep Thai Nguyen T&T Club in the top 3.

We will design a suitable lesson plan.

- With the experience gained from studying for the AFC Pro license, how will you bring a new look to Thai Nguyen T&T Club?

During the five years I studied for my AFC Pro coaching license and gained experience assisting coaches Mai Duc Chung (Vietnam women's national team) and Akira Ijiri (Vietnam U.19 women's team), I blended my studies with coaching.

I learned how to design a training session, what steps are needed to prepare for a new season, and how to train in a way that best suits the players.

For example, I want to design training sessions where players don't have to wait long, always stimulating their thinking. The head coach won't just tell players to do this or that. Instead, when they step onto the field, the players must make their own decisions, sometimes in just a few seconds. I want the players to take responsibility for their actions. That's the core element.

- What are the goals that Thai Nguyen T&T Club has set for the international friendly tournament against teams from the Philippines and China?

Thai Nguyen T&T's opponents in the friendly tournament in early October are both very strong. The Philippine team has many talented players from the US and Canada. The Chinese team comes from a strong women's football nation in Asia. These are two high-quality opponents. In addition, the Hanoi women's club also has a new coach, and sometimes we can't fully "read" their intentions.

However, this is an opportunity for Thai Nguyen T&T Club to prepare for the Women's National Cup taking place in December. I want to instill confidence in the players ahead of this important tournament. As for how to prepare, that's a behind-the-scenes matter that the head coach, like me, has to handle.

Thank you for the conversation!

Van Thi Thanh is a well-known name in Vietnamese women's football. The former national team player, born in 1985 in Ha Nam province, joined the Vietnamese women's national team at the young age of 17. Van Thi Thanh scored the decisive goal that helped the Vietnamese women's team win the gold medal at the 22nd SEA Games (2003) on home soil.

Van Thi Thanh received the Vietnamese Golden Ball award in 2003, the Silver Ball in 2005, and was one of the top 10 Vietnamese athletes in 2003 and 2005. After retiring from playing, Van Thi Thanh pursued a coaching career and is currently the only female coach in Vietnam with an AFC Pro license (the highest AFC certification for professional coaches qualified to lead national teams - organized by the VFF and AFC).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/qua-bong-vang-van-thi-thanh-dan-dat-doi-thai-nguyen-tt-toi-khong-ngai-ap-luc-185240930121837876.htm