SEA Games 33 in Thailand was his final tournament in charge. Although the team fell short of defending their gold medal, losing to the Philippines in a dramatic penalty shootout in the final, this result was not the reason behind his decision to step down.

"I’ve been with women’s football for a long time. Now that I’m older, it’s time to make way for the younger generation," said Coach Mai Duc Chung.

At 74, Chung confirmed that he would be dedicating more time to his family after stepping away from the sidelines.

Under his leadership, the Vietnam women’s national team claimed six SEA Games gold medals, including a record-setting run of four consecutive titles in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023.

Most notably, Chung led the team to their first-ever appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, a historic milestone not only for the team but for Vietnamese football as a whole.

With Chung stepping down, reports suggest that assistant coach Hoang Van Phuc  -  who worked alongside him during SEA Games 33  -  is being considered by VFF as his potential successor. Phuc may be tasked with preparing the team for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in Australia next March. The tournament will serve as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Chung is a legendary Vietnamese football coach and former professional player, born on June 21, 1951, in Ngoc Ha, Hanoi, with family roots in Hung Yen province.

He began his football career during Vietnam’s subsidy era, playing for the Hanoi Bus team and the Railway team. In the early 1980s, he represented the Vietnam national team before retiring as a player and shifting into coaching in the mid-1980s.

Chung is best known for his enduring and transformative role as head coach of the Vietnam women’s national football team. First appointed in the late 1990s, he returned to lead the squad at various pivotal moments across the next three decades, with his influence reaching its peak in the 2020s.

Under his guidance, the team achieved historic milestones, including multiple SEA Games gold medals, the AFF Women’s Championship title, and - most notably - Vietnam’s first-ever qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.

At that tournament, Mai Duc Chung made history as the oldest coach ever to appear at a World Cup, whether in the men’s or women’s game.

In recognition of his immense contributions to Vietnamese football - especially women’s football - he was awarded the prestigious title of “Labor Hero” by the President of Vietnam in 2025.

His legacy lives on in the generations of players he inspired, the victories he shaped, and the respect he earned both on and off the field.

Dai Nam