Ninh Binh, 24 October 2025 – After leading Nam Dinh FC to back-to-back V.League 1 championships in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, head coach Vu Hong Viet is reportedly on the verge of parting ways with the club amid a difficult run of form both domestically and in continental competition.
According to sources close to the club, Vu Hong Viet — the architect behind Nam Dinh FC’s golden era — could officially step down as head coach today. If confirmed, it would mark the end of a remarkable chapter between the tactician and the team he guided to two consecutive V.League 1 titles, restoring Nam Dinh’s status as one of Vietnam’s most successful clubs in recent years.
However, the current campaign has not gone as planned. The team’s 1-3 defeat to Gamba Osaka in the third round of the AFC Champions League Two continued a poor stretch of results, leaving Nam Dinh with just four wins, one draw, and five losses in their last ten matches across all competitions.
Domestically, the reigning champions have struggled for consistency. They suffered defeats to Song Lam Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Hanoi Police FC, and Ho Chi Minh FC, while being held to a draw by Ho Chi Minh City FC. With just a handful of points separating them from the relegation zone, Nam Dinh currently sit 10th out of 14 teams — a disappointing position for a club whose squad value exceeds €10 million, one of the highest in V.League 1.
The team’s decline in attacking output has been a major concern. Brazilian striker Marlos Brenner, once seen as the focal point of Nam Dinh’s frontline, has underperformed with only two goals and one assist so far this season. Injuries have further compounded the club’s struggles, as several key players remain sidelined. Njabulo Blom has been ruled out for the rest of the season, while Caio Cesar, Kevin Pham Ba, Nguyen Phong Hong Duy, Ngo Duc Huy, and Nguyen Tuan Anh have all been unavailable in recent weeks.
Forward Nguyen Van Toan, who recently returned to training after knee surgery, is still not fit enough for full competition. These absences have forced coach Vu Hong Viet to make continuous tactical adjustments, but results have not improved.
If the managerial change is finalized, Nam Dinh FC will need to act swiftly to stabilize their campaign before the second half of the season. The club remains alive in the AFC Champions League Two, but with domestic form faltering and morale low, the departure of Vu Hong Viet — the man who led them to glory — would mark a significant turning point in the club’s recent history.
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