Harry Kewell in the middle of the V.League 'grinding furnace'

Coach Harry Kewell was appointed to the hot seat of Hanoi on the morning of October 4.

On the morning of October 4, the capital team officially appointed the former Australian player to replace Technical Director Yusuke Adachi, who was in temporary charge for the last 3 rounds.

Hanoi's new coach needs time to adapt

“No matter how good the profile of coach Harry Kewell is, he still needs time to adapt to the environment and the harshness of V.League. Now, even inviting coach Jose Mourinho or coach Pep Guardiola is not something we can say for sure, because we have to wait and see if it is suitable,” football expert Doan Minh Xuong shared with Tri Thuc - Znews after Hanoi announced the appointment of coach Harry Kewell.

It is worth mentioning that the new coach of Hanoi has a “dreamy” resume. Specifically, coach Harry Kewell was once one of the brightest stars of Australian football. He played 56 times for the national team, scored 17 goals and participated in 2 World Cups (2006, 2010). At the club level, coach Harry Kewell played for Leeds United and Liverpool.

Switching to coaching in 2017, Coach Harry Kewell started with English teams such as Crawley Town, Notts County, Oldham Athletic and Barnet. In 2022, he joined Celtic (Scotland) as an assistant to Coach Ange Postecoglou. In early 2024, he became the captain of Yokohama F. Marinos and in his first season, he led the team to the runner-up position in the AFC Champions League.

The capital team hopes for a new contract: "With experience in Europe both playing and coaching, coach Harry Kewell is expected to bring a new breeze, contributing to raising the team's level on the journey to conquer domestic goals and aspirations to reach the continental level."

However, Coach Doan Minh Xuong believes that no matter how good a resume is, it will take time to adapt to the rigors of V.League, which is considered a coach grinding mill. An easy-to-understand proof is that after only the first 5 rounds, 3 coaches could not stay in the race, including former coach Makoto Teguramori of Hanoi.

This season, Hanoi's goal is to win at least one tournament to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the team's founding. However, after the first 3 rounds of V.League 2025/26, the capital team only had 1 draw, 2 losses and stopped early in the National Cup qualifying round. This achievement made coach Makoto Teguramori the first coach to lose his job in the 2025/26 season.

Before coach Harry Kewell arrived, Technical Director Yusuke Adachi was given temporary control and helped Hanoi win 5 points after 3 matches, which brought a somewhat positive signal. But to achieve the long-term goal, Hanoi still needs an official captain with enough courage and influence.

Coach Harry Kewell will debut in the match against Ninh Binh in round 7 of V.League 2025/26.

The first challenge

The capital team emphasized: “A big name that was once famous in the Premier League, and competed in the World Cup, coming to Hanoi is also a testament to our attraction and desire to grow. This is the foundation for building a modern identity, towards the continent.”

According to expert Doan Minh Xuong, coach Harry Kewell’s journey in V.League is not easy. However, Hanoi still has many opportunities. He said: “The road is still long, V.League has only gone 6 rounds and Hanoi has had 2 wins. The chance to win the championship still exists, because after all, they have been a big team for nearly two decades.”

The advantage for the coach born in 1978 is that he has 2 weeks of FIFA Days to get to know his students, impart training methods and test tactics. This is considered the “golden time” for him to understand the team better before officially entering the rotation.

On October 18, Coach Harry Kewell will have his debut match at Hang Day Stadium when Hanoi hosts Ninh Binh in round 7. The ancient capital team is leading the rankings with 14 points after 6 rounds. This match is considered an important test for Coach Harry Kewell on the journey back to the championship race of the capital team.

Source: https://znews.vn/harry-kewell-giua-lo-xay-vleague-post1590699.html