Ninh Binh, 2 July, 2025 – Newly promoted V.League 1 club Ninh Binh officially introduced their new head coach, Spanish tactician Albadalejo, on July 2, marking a bold step in their preparation for the 2025-2026 season. Albadalejo will replace Nguyen Viet Thang, who led the team to promotion.
Prior to arriving in Vietnam, Albadalejo served in various coaching roles in Spain’s Segunda Division B. From 2015 to 2017, he worked as the reserve team coach at Lleida Esportiu before being promoted to manage the first team in July 2017. His managerial career also includes stints with Orihuela (2019–2021), Esportiu Europa (2022), Atletico Saguntino (2022–2023), and Badalona II (2023–2024). He took a brief break from coaching in September 2024 before accepting the Ninh Binh offer.
Joining Albadalejo on the coaching bench will be five Spanish assistants, forming a highly professional backroom team. The staff includes a technical assistant, a fitness coach, a goalkeeper coach, a performance analyst, and a recovery specialist. Notably, the goalkeeper coach previously worked with the Villarreal youth academy, while another assistant brings experience from clubs in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. According to Ninh Binh, all are young professionals with solid European training and a modern football background.
Alongside this coaching overhaul, Ninh Binh has bolstered their squad with the signing of two Spanish foreign players. The club is also set to welcome two Brazilian players, including striker Gustavo Henrique, who previously played for Hanoi Police FC in 2023. After his stint in Vietnam, Henrique moved to the Iraqi Premier League and finished second in the league’s scoring charts.
Ninh Binh has also made waves on the domestic transfer market. They secured key Vietnamese players such as Chau Ngoc Quang, Dung Quang Nho, and Tran Bao Toan. The club’s most controversial acquisition has been Duc Chien, who revealed he had to pay 3 billion VND to terminate his remaining two-month contract with former club Viettel in order to join Ninh Binh.
With a revamped technical staff and an ambitious transfer campaign, Ninh Binh is clearly aiming to make a strong impression in their return to the top flight.
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