New fitness coach for Vietnam football team hinh anh 1Brazilian Willander Fonseca is expected to take charge of Vietnamese players’ fitness for the Asian Cup 2019 (Photo: anninhthudo.vn)

Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnam Football Federation has hired fitness coach Willander Fonseca on a trial basis to work with Vietnamese players to prepare for the Asian Cup 2019.

The 31-year-old Brazilian replaces Bae Ji-won from the Republic of Korea, who left for a job in Malaysia earlier this week.

Fonseca has worked in this field for 11 years. He started his career at the age of 20 in Brazil until he moved to work for Thai League 1’s Buriam United in 2015 and the Cambodian national team last year.

Fonseca and the players gathered in Hanoi on December 20 for training. He will be on trial until January 31, before potentially signing a contract with the VFF.

Vietnamese footballers will train five days before a friendly match against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on December 25 in Hanoi. They will have another friendly against the Philippines five days later in the UAE.

Vietnam will kick off their Asian Cup against Iraq on January 8 in the UAE. -VNA
VNA