Caretaker coach post remains open
(VOV) - The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) is seeking a caretaker coach for the national football squad after Khanh Hoa FC coach Hoang Anh Tuan refused the invitation.
Tuan was considered a potential candidate for the post to train the national squad in the lead up to the two upcoming Asian Cup qualifiers.
He outclassed other candidates for his professional experience, a good command of English, and for being a free coach.
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| Coach Anh Tuan (Right) refused to lead the national team |
Tuan and VFF had agreed in principle on a contract, but the national squad’s defeat at the recent AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 has had major influence on domestic coaches, including Tuan, according to VFF Vice President Nguyen Lan Trung.
VFF respected Tuan’s decision, and delayed announcing the name of the caretaker coach in a couple of days, said Trung.
VFF planned to name the caretaker coach on January 7.
As the two Asian Cup qualifiers are drawing near, the national football governing body has included domestic coaches Nguyen Huu Thang and Le Huynh Duc in the shortlist.
National players will be called in on January 23 for training before competing at the Asian Cup qualifiers.
Vietnam will take on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on February 6, 2013 and Hong Kong in an away match on March 22, 2013.
They will play a friendly match against Hyundai Mipo Dolphin FC of the Republic of Korea on January 31. In another development, Portuguese coach Henrique Calisto, who helped the national squad win a bronze medal at the Tiger Cup 2002 and a gold medal at the AFF Cup 2008, refuted rumours that he would return to lead the team.