After parting ways with SHB Da Nang after three straight losses, Brazilian coach Cristiano Roland has accepted a new assignment from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to return as head coach of the Vietnam U17 national team for the Asian U17 Championship 2025. Recently, the VFF sent a formal letter to Ha Noi FC requesting that the club help facilitate Coach Roland’s availability for the tournament. Ha Noi FC agreed to the request, clearing the way for him to resume his role with the U17 team.
Coach Cristiano Roland is already well known in Vietnam for leading the U17 team successfully through the Asian qualification stage for the tournament, which will be held in Saudi Arabia from April 3 to 20, 2025. After that successful campaign, he took on coaching duties at SHB Da Nang. However, after a difficult run with three consecutive defeats at Da Nang, he decided to step down, which means he is now available to take charge of the U17 national team once more.
Because the time left for preparing the team is short, VFF considers Coach Roland the safest and most suitable choice. He has built a good relationship with his young players and possesses a coaching philosophy that fits well with the development goals of Vietnam’s youth football. Although the federation had also been in contact with a Japanese coach—an experienced leader who has previously managed national youth teams—the plan is to sign that candidate to a contract with the Vietnam Professional Football League and appoint him as the assistant coach (or “phó tướng”) to work alongside Coach Roland.
At the upcoming Asian U17 Championship 2025, Vietnam’s U17 team will be drawn into Group B alongside strong opponents from Japan, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In this tournament, the top eight teams that reach the quarterfinals will earn a spot at the U17 World Cup. The opportunity to qualify for the World Cup makes this championship extremely important for the young players and the entire football community in Vietnam.
According to the plan, Coach Roland and his U17 squad are scheduled to begin intensive training on March 2 at the Vietnam Football Youth Training Center in Hanoi. This training camp will be crucial for the team as they refine their tactics, build team chemistry, and prepare mentally for the challenges ahead.
For primary school students, think of this situation like a soccer team getting a chance to change their coach right before a big tournament. The new coach already knows the players well from earlier games and has a special plan to help the team win. The assistant coach from Japan will work with him, much like having a helper in a classroom. Together, they aim to make the team stronger and ready to compete with other countries such as Japan, Australia, and the UAE.
This move by the VFF shows how seriously they take the development of young talent and their ambition to see Vietnam succeed on the international stage.
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