Philippe Troussier has been appointed coach of the Vietnam U18 team. Photo qdnd.vn

The former manager of Japan has replaced Hoang Anh Tuan who resigned following Vietnam’s failure to qualify for the semi-finals of the recent U18 AFF Championship.

The 64-year-old Frenchman will lead Vietnam in the 2020 AFC U19 Championship qualifiers.

Vietnam are in Group J alongside Japan, Mongolia and Guam for the event which will start on November 2. Vietnam will be playing their first match against Guam on November 6.

Troussier has a long association with African football and particularly their national teams, managing Côte ’Ivoire, Nigeria, South Africa and Burkina Faso.

He was the head coach of the Japan national team between 1998 and 200, helping the Blue Samurai win the 2000 AFC Asian Cup and led them in the 2002 FIFA World Cup where they made it to the last-16 as the host nation.

Troussier is also technique director of the Promotion Fund of Vietnamese Football Talents Football Club (PVF).

VNS