Thanh Hoa, 6 Nov 2026 – Thanh Hoa FC have appointed South Korean coach Kim Young Chul to replace Mai Xuan Hop ahead of their V.League 1 2026/27 Round 7 encounter against The Cong Viettel on November 8, continuing a series of managerial changes at the club during the early stages of the season.
The appointment was confirmed on November 6, bringing another change to Thanh Hoa’s coaching staff as the club attempts to improve its disappointing start to the campaign. Mai Xuan Hop, who had repeatedly stepped in as interim head coach following the departures of foreign managers, was relieved of his position because he reportedly did not meet the qualification requirements to serve as a permanent head coach. His latest departure follows previous spells in which he temporarily replaced Velizar Popov, Tomislav Steinbruckner and Choi Won Kwon.
Kim Young Chul, a former assistant to Vietnam national team head coach Kim Sang-sik, has been selected to take charge of the Thanh Hoa squad. The South Korean tactician is expected to arrive in Vietnam on November 7 before making his debut the following day when Thanh Hoa travel to Hang Day Stadium to face The Cong Viettel. The fixture will feature two newly appointed head coaches, with the home side also preparing for the domestic debut of Almeida De Azevedo Silva, who recently replaced Popov following a prolonged run of disappointing results.
Before moving into coaching, Kim Young Chul enjoyed a professional playing career in South Korea, representing clubs including Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma and Jeonnam Dragons. He also gained international experience with the South Korean national team, including participation in the FIFA World Cup. After retiring from professional football, he moved into coaching and became familiar to Vietnamese supporters in September 2025 when he joined Kim Sang-sik’s coaching staff with the Vietnam U23 national team.
His appointment comes at a challenging time for Thanh Hoa, who currently occupy 11th place in the V.League 1 standings. The club have struggled to establish consistency, while repeated managerial changes have created additional uncertainty surrounding the team’s tactical direction and long-term development. Kim will therefore face the immediate task of stabilising performances, improving results and helping the players adapt to his coaching methods despite having very little preparation time before his first competitive fixture.
The upcoming encounter against The Cong Viettel presents an unusual situation, with both clubs entering the match under new leadership. While Thanh Hoa are seeking greater stability following another coaching change, The Cong Viettel are attempting to recover from a nine-match winless streak across all competitions. Both teams will be under pressure to secure a positive result, making the November 8 meeting particularly important for their efforts to climb the league standings.
For Thanh Hoa, the appointment of Kim Young Chul represents another attempt to restore stability after several turbulent seasons on the coaching bench. His previous experience working alongside Kim Sang-sik could prove valuable as he adjusts to Vietnamese football, but the club’s immediate results will ultimately determine whether the South Korean coach can provide the consistency Thanh Hoa have been searching for.
VSN/RPT
Leave a Reply