Hanoi, 6 October 2025 – Former Australian international Harry Kewell expressed his excitement as he officially began his journey with Hanoi FC, hoping to lead the capital club back to the summit of Vietnamese football.
“The beauty of football is that it gives you the chance to experience different countries and cultures. I’m grateful to football because it has taken me to places I’ve always wanted to visit. My time in Hanoi has already been wonderful — I love this city,” Kewell said upon arriving in Vietnam’s capital to take charge of the six-time V.League 1 champions.
Hanoi FC appointed Harry Kewell as head coach on October 4 under a contract whose duration and salary details were not disclosed. His primary mission is to lift Hanoi FC — currently sixth in the standings with eight points after six matches — back into title contention.
Before Kewell’s arrival, the club had already changed coaches twice this season. Japanese coach Makoto Teguramori was dismissed after a poor run of four winless matches across the V.League and National Cup, while interim coach Yusuke Adachi, now returning to his role as technical director, helped the team recover with two wins and one draw.
“I’m very happy to join Hanoi FC and look forward to the challenges ahead. I hope we can create a great atmosphere and bring this club back to where it belongs,” Kewell stated during his unveiling.
Born in 1978, Harry Kewell remains one of the most celebrated figures in Australian football history. He earned 56 caps and scored 17 goals for the national team, representing the Socceroos at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. Alongside Tim Cahill and Mark Viduka, Kewell is considered part of Australia’s golden generation in the English Premier League.
During his peak years at Leeds United (1995–2003), Kewell was among the Premier League’s brightest stars, valued at €10 million — a remarkable sum more than two decades ago. He later played for Liverpool and Galatasaray before moving into coaching.
Kewell’s managerial career has included spells with Crawley Town, Notts County, Oldham Athletic, and Barnet in England. In 2022, he joined Scottish champions Celtic as assistant coach to Ange Postecoglou before taking over Yokohama F. Marinos in early 2024. Under his leadership, the Japanese side finished as runners-up in the 2023–2024 AFC Champions League.
“I first experienced Asian football culture while working with Japanese and Korean players at Celtic, like Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate, and Yang Hyun-jun. They were exceptionally professional. Later, coaching in Japan taught me even more,” Kewell shared. “A good coach must create an environment where players want to learn and improve. Vietnamese players are eager to develop, and I will give everything to help Hanoi FC grow.”
Kewell’s debut match will be against league leaders Ninh Binh at Hang Day Stadium on October 18 — a tough opening challenge against one of the strongest sides in V.League 1.
Ha Phuong
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