Hung Yen, 23 November 2025 – PVF have made a surprising mid-season change by ending their contract with coach Thach Bao Khanh after a disappointing start to the V.League 1 2025–2026 campaign, despite the club’s limited squad and late promotion.
PVF have decided to part ways with coach Thach Bao Khanh following a series of underwhelming results since the beginning of the V.League 1 2025–2026 season. The decision comes as a surprise to many observers, given the team’s modest squad and lack of top-flight experience. Despite this, PVF management and the coach mutually agreed to end the contract, marking another significant coaching change in the league this year.
The surprise stems from the fact that PVF were never considered a strong team compared with most clubs in the league. Their squad is largely composed of young players, many of whom lack experience at the highest domestic level. Coach Thach Bao Khanh was widely praised for igniting strong fighting spirit within the squad, but the team’s biggest weakness remained the lack of match experience in a highly competitive environment. PVF were only granted a last-minute promotion to V.League 1 after Quang Nam withdrew from the season.
Given their thin squad, limited preparation time and reliance on youth, PVF inevitably entered “survival mode” from the early rounds. After 11 matches, the club recorded only one win along with five draws and five losses, giving them eight points — level with Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Thanh Hoa, and just one point above bottom-placed Da Nang.
A coaching change appears reasonable for PVF at this stage, as the club look to break their run of draws and defeats heading into the second phase of the season. The management hope a fresh approach will help lift the team’s performance. Nevertheless, it remains unfortunate for coach Thach Bao Khanh, who departs halfway through a challenging season.
With this decision, Thach Bao Khanh becomes the sixth coach to leave his post since the start of the campaign, following departures at Hanoi FC, Song Lam Nghe An, Becamex Ho Chi Minh, Nam Dinh and Thanh Hoa. He will be replaced by coach Nguyen Thanh Cong, who is expected to bring his own coaching staff to align with his tactical approach as PVF prepare for a crucial second phase of the season.
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