Quang Nam, 15 June, 2025 – Nam Dinh head coach Vu Hong Viet expressed deep pride and emotion after his team successfully defended their V.League title with a 2-0 victory over Quang Nam in Round 25 of the 2024–2025 season. The win brought Nam Dinh to 54 points—eight clear of Hanoi—with just one round remaining, sealing their second consecutive league championship.
“Winning a title is already difficult, but defending it is even more so,” said Vu Hong Viet after the match at Tam Ky Stadium. “I’m extremely happy because after nine grueling months of hard work and perseverance, we’ve earned a result that is truly deserved.”
Reflecting on the challenging journey, the 46-year-old coach highlighted the resilience of his squad, who had to overcome several setbacks including a slow start to the season and the loss of key players like Xuan Son and Nguyen Van Toan to injury. “There were times when we had so many injuries that we barely had enough healthy players to form a full starting lineup. But everyone remained united, determined, and gave their all. That unity and spirit carried us through, and I’m both surprised and honored that we were able to retain the title,” he added with emotion.
Vu Hong Viet, a former player for clubs like Hanoi ACB, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, and Hoa Phat Hanoi, transitioned to coaching after retirement. He served as an assistant coach for the national team and managed various youth squads such as the U15 and U19 before taking the reins at Nam Dinh in 2022.
Thanks to the club’s strong financial backing, Viet has led Nam Dinh to back-to-back V.League championships (2023–2024 and 2024–2025) as well as the 2025 National Super Cup. He was named V.League’s Best Coach of the 2023–2024 season and has won the Coach of the Month award four times. The match against Quang Nam marked his 100th game in charge of Nam Dinh, boasting a record of 52 wins, 22 draws, and 26 losses.
“I don’t pay attention to time or personal achievements. I’m just grateful to the provincial leaders and our loyal fans who have always believed in and supported us to reach our goals,” Viet said.
Team captain and goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh echoed his coach’s sentiments, acknowledging the difficulty of the campaign compared to the previous season. “We had a poor start, participated in multiple competitions, and faced several issues. But the team showed great effort. Thanks to our experience and resilience, we pulled through during the crucial stages and beat our direct competitors. That was the key to defending our title,” the Nghe An native concluded.
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