VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) is considering to hire a foreign technical director for the national football team, said the federation chairman Nguyen Trong Hy.



VFF used to have a German technical director 12 years ago – Mr. Rainer Willfeld. Willfeld came to Vietnam under a cooperation program between Vietnam and Germany. His salary - $5,000/month – was paid by the German Football Federation and a German company. Vietnam only covered his accommodations and travel expenses.

However, in his four years in Vietnam, VFF did not assign any important mission to this German expert. Instead of being a strategy maker for Vietnam’s football, Willfeld worked as a teacher at some coach training classes, a trainer for young teams and the women’s national football squad and an advisor of the men’s national team.

After Willfeld left Vietnam in 2004, VFF has not recruited any technical director. Now the federation plans to resume this position.

The federation wants to have a foreign technical director but it insists to hire a local coach for the men’s national team. It is nearly sure that Phan Thanh Hung will be chosen as the official coach of the men’s national team after several months working as a temporary coach.

The coach of the men’s national team will be named in August so the team will have sufficient time to prepare for the AFF Cup 2012, which will take place in Malaysia and Thailand from November 24 to December 24.

Compiled by S. Tung