According to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), the contract runs until the end of the 34th SEA Games next year,. Mai Duc Chung stepped down after the team missed their target of qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals.

Under the guidance of Mai Duc Chung, the Vietnam women’s team achieved a series of major achievements, including qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Hoang Van Phuc is an experienced coach in the V.League and has previously worked with the Vietnam national team and the U23 side. In 2017, he led Quang Nam FC to the V.League title, beating a number of top teams.

Hoang Van Phuc said leading the Vietnam women’s team is a great honour and that he will focus on stabilising the squad in the immediate term.

The team is undergoing a period of renewal, with several key players ageing or leaving the squad, including captain Huynh Nhu.

At the same time, regional rivals such as the Philippines are improving strongly. Experts say taking charge of the Vietnam women’s team is no small challenge at this stage.

Coach Mai Duc Chung's retirement to mark dawn of new era

Coach Mai Duc Chung is edging ever closer to his retirement from women's football with his contract expiring at the end of the year.