The men’s national team of Vietnam is currently ranked 93rd in the world, and first in Southeast Asia for the third year in a row (Photo: VNA)That the season wrapped up successfully hashelped elevate the brand of Vietnam’s professional football league. A host offamous coaches and players are set to join the 2021 V.League, which isscheduled to kick off in January.
Of particular note, Ljupko Petrovic, who as a manager wonthe UEFA Champions League, will be the most high-profile coach to have set foot on Vietnam in his capacity as Thanh Hoa FC’s coach.
In addition, Thai manager and former player KiatisakSenamuang and Alexandre Polking will set ambitious goals with the Hoang Anh Gia LaiFC and the Ho Chi Minh City FC, respectively.
Polking, who spent seven years in the Thai League,said that if the V.League contenders improve their infrastructure andinvestment, more international football stars would come to play in thecountry. He also spoke highly of Vietnamese footballers’ skills.
In terms of players, next year’s season will see MatsuiDaisuke playing for Sai Gon FC. He is a former midfielder with the Japanese nationalteam, which triumphed at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, and he competed in the 2010FIFA World Cup.
Lee Nguyen, once named as a finalist for the 2014version of the Major League Soccer MVP Award, is due to join the Ho Chi Minh CityFC.
The success of the V.League is attributed to thecountry’s effectiveness in COVID-19 prevention, in the context that many other countries in theregion are struggling to organise matches.
The men’s national team is currently ranked 93rd inthe world, and first in Southeast Asia for the third year in a row. The women’s teamis ranked fifth in Asia, with a chance to compete at the 2023 FIFA Women’sWorld Cup./.
VNA
