Hanoi, 5 October 2025 – Australian football legend Harry Kewell has officially been appointed as the new head coach of Hanoi FC, marking one of the most high-profile managerial arrivals in Vietnamese football in recent years.
The club confirmed the appointment on its official website, with Kewell expressing his excitement about beginning work immediately with the leadership, coaching staff, and players of Hanoi FC. The deal was finalized swiftly following productive negotiations based on mutual respect and shared ambition between both sides.
Just a short time ago, Kewell had been a target for several clubs and even national teams. The former Liverpool star was among the shortlisted candidates for the Singapore national team’s head coach position, alongside 2006 Ballon d’Or winner Fabio Cannavaro. He also attracted interest from Thai League 1 club Kanchanaburi Power and another unnamed V.League side before Hanoi FC stepped in decisively.
The capital club’s strong ambitions — to reclaim domestic dominance and establish a solid presence on the continental stage — ultimately convinced Kewell to accept the challenge. The 45-year-old coach also saw the role as an opportunity to prove himself in one of Asia’s most competitive emerging football markets. In the past five years alone, Hanoi FC have changed head coaches nine times due to unmet expectations in both performance and trophies, and Kewell’s success could serve as a major turning point in his managerial career.
Media outlets from England and Australia, as well as international sports networks, have widely covered the move, describing it as a “landmark signing” for Vietnamese football. Kewell’s arrival continues the V.League’s growing trend of attracting renowned foreign coaches and former international stars, further boosting the league’s global visibility.
This appointment also marks Kewell’s return to Vietnam for the first time in 18 years. His last visit was during the 2007 AFC Asian Cup quarterfinal, when he represented Australia in the match against Japan at My Dinh Stadium — a game remembered for Kewell’s missed penalty in the shoot-out.
According to international reports, Kewell’s salary package at Hanoi FC is described as “reasonable and competitive,” aligned with the standard range for foreign coaches in the V.League. It is notably lower than the record salary of more than VND 700 million per month once paid to Mano Polking at Ho Chi Minh City FC in 2020.
During his illustrious playing career, Harry Kewell earned 56 caps for the Australian national team, scoring 17 goals and featuring in two FIFA World Cups (2006 and 2010). At club level, he made his name in the English Premier League with Leeds United and Liverpool, winning the UEFA Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006.
Since beginning his managerial career in 2017, Kewell has coached clubs such as Crawley Town, Notts County, Oldham Athletic, and Barnet. In 2022, he joined Celtic FC (Scotland) as an assistant to Ange Postecoglou before taking charge of Yokohama F. Marinos in 2024, leading the Japanese club to a runners-up finish in the AFC Champions League 2023-2024 season.
Phương Trang
Leave a Reply