Thang named national team coach

Hanoi (VNA) - Nguyen Huu Thang has agreed to become head coach of the national football team, according to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

The former national midfielder will take the heavy duty for two years.

Earlier, the VFF fired Japanese coach Toshyia Miura after his poor result after nearly two years.

"The National Coach Council has introduced several candidates and I have talked with them before choosing Thang as the most suitable person for the position," said Le Hoai Anh, VFF General Secretary.

"We have discussed with him and basically things are finalised. If nothing changes at the last minute, Thang will be the national head coach," said Anh.

"The contract will valid for 24 months and Thang will start working in March, guiding Vietnam in two matches against Chinese Taipei and Iraq at the World Cup qualification round." Nghe An province-based Thang, who flew to Hanoi earlier this month for the discussion, is excited with his new job.

"Being the coach of the national team is an honour to any trainer. The VFF and I have come to an agreement. I am looking forward to the hey day," Thang said.

The 44-year-old coach refused to talk more about his deal but revealed that one of the conditions he asked was that the VFF must give him power to decide issues such as choosing his assistants, plans of training and the team's playing style.

Thang grew up and trained as a player of the national football hub Song Lam Nghe An.

He was famous with his strong character and his smart and solid style. He was a member and captain of Vietnam's most well-known football generation in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

He retired in 2005 and has worked as a coach until now.

Thang worked for several clubs before returning to his home town team of Song Lam Nghe An in 2010. In the same year, he won a National Cup title, the V.League and the Super Cup trophies a year later.

Thang quit in 2014 and was available when he received the VFF's invitation.

Thang is the third Vietnamese coach who has led the national team in last five years after Phan Thanh Hung and Hoang Van Phuc.

"He is the most suitable one for the seat. Thang is one of several Vietnamese coaches who had successes. He was also a national team player who belonged to the best team of Vietnam up to now," said football expert Vu Manh Hai.

Hai also said Thang was a man of a firm stuff with a strong personality and stable points of view. These characters would help him be successful at the national team.

The contract signing ceremony is scheduled later this week.

The first game of the national team will be on March 15. They will play Chinese Taipei on March 24 on home turf and Iraq five days later at a neutral site.-VNA