Hanoi, 1 Nov 2026 – The Cong Viettel have officially appointed Almeida De Azevedo Silva as their new head coach following the departure of Velizar Popov, with the Brazilian tasked with reviving the club’s fortunes after an eight-match winless run across all competitions.
The appointment comes shortly after The Cong Viettel parted ways with Bulgarian coach Velizar Popov following a disappointing start to the 2026/27 season.
Almeida De Azevedo Silva, who previously served as an assistant coach at the club, has been promoted to the top position as The Cong Viettel seek stability in both domestic and continental competitions.
Having joined the club in July 2024, Silva is already familiar with the squad, coaching structure and working environment. His knowledge of the players is expected to help ensure a smoother transition during a difficult period.
The Brazilian holds a Pro coaching licence and has previous experience working in professional football in Brazil, Asia and the Middle East before moving to Vietnam.
His first assignment will be particularly demanding, with The Cong Viettel travelling to South Korea to face FC Seoul in the AFC Champions League Two group stage on November 4.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 5:00 p.m. Vietnam time, providing an immediate test for the newly appointed head coach against a team that recently defeated The Cong Viettel 5-0.
Following their continental fixture, The Cong Viettel will return to domestic action when they host Thanh Hoa in Round 7 of V.League 1 on November 8, with kick-off scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
Silva inherits a team struggling for form and confidence.
Before Popov’s departure, The Cong Viettel had gone eight consecutive matches without a victory, recording six defeats and two draws across all competitions.
Their most recent win came in the opening round of the V.League 1 2026/27 season, when they defeated Dong Nai 2-0.
Since then, results have deteriorated sharply, leaving the club well below expectations after entering the campaign with ambitions of competing near the top of the standings.
The Cong Viettel currently occupy 12th place in V.League 1 with four points, sitting just one point above Hoang Anh Gia Lai, who are second from bottom.
Their continental campaign has been equally disappointing.
After three matches in Group E of the AFC Champions League Two, The Cong Viettel sit bottom of the standings with just one point, placing their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage in serious doubt.
The heavy defeat to FC Seoul in their previous continental fixture further exposed the team’s defensive weaknesses and contributed to the pressure surrounding Popov’s position.
Silva now faces the challenge of restoring defensive organisation, improving attacking efficiency and rebuilding confidence within a squad that has struggled to deliver consistent performances.
His familiarity with the players could prove valuable as he attempts to introduce changes without disrupting the team’s preparations during a demanding schedule.
With challenging fixtures against FC Seoul and Thanh Hoa approaching, Almeida De Azevedo Silva will have little time to settle into his new role as The Cong Viettel seek an immediate response to their poor start to the season.
VSN/RPT
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