Ninh Binh, 24 October 2025 – After a series of disappointing results early in the 2025/2026 V.League 1 season, Nam Dinh FC has officially announced changes to its coaching structure. Nguyen Trung Kien will take over as head coach, while former manager Vu Hong Viet transitions to the position of technical director.
Nam Dinh FC has confirmed a major adjustment to its leadership team following a slow start to the 2025/2026 V.League 1 campaign. In an official statement released on October 24, the club announced that Nguyen Trung Kien will assume the role of head coach, replacing Vu Hong Viet, who will now serve as the team’s technical director.
Born in 1979, Nguyen Trung Kien is a familiar figure to Nam Dinh supporters. A product of the club’s youth academy, he played as a midfielder for Nam Dinh and Cang Sai Gon, and also earned call-ups to the Vietnam national team during his playing career. In 2023, he returned to Nam Dinh as the technical director, working closely alongside Vu Hong Viet to guide the club through its most successful era in history.
Under the combined leadership of both men, Nam Dinh achieved remarkable success, winning two consecutive V.League 1 titles and a National Super Cup across three seasons — a golden chapter for the club and a historic feat in Vietnamese football.
However, the new V.League 1 season has seen Nam Dinh struggle to replicate their dominance. After seven rounds, the reigning champions have collected only seven points, leaving them in the lower half of the standings. On the continental stage, Nam Dinh have fared better, recording three wins and one loss across the AFC Champions League Two and ASEAN Club Championship.
Faced with inconsistent domestic performances, the club’s management opted to refresh the coaching setup. The appointment of Nguyen Trung Kien as head coach is seen as an effort to inject new ideas and energy into the squad, while Vu Hong Viet’s shift to a strategic oversight role allows him to continue contributing his experience and vision.
Since taking charge in 2022, Vu Hong Viet has been instrumental in transforming Nam Dinh into a powerhouse. He led the club to their first-ever V.League 1 title in the 2023/2024 season, then defended it successfully the following year with 54 points after 25 rounds — an unprecedented achievement in the club’s history.
Beyond the league, his tenure also brought additional silverware: the 2023/2024 National Super Cup and a runner-up finish in the 2024/2025 edition.
The club emphasized that the reshuffle is aimed at ensuring long-term stability while reigniting Nam Dinh’s title ambitions, both domestically and in continental competitions. Fans will now look to see how Nguyen Trung Kien’s tactical approach can help the team rediscover its championship form in the coming rounds.
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