VietNamNet Bridge – Without revealing the name of the new coach of the men’s football squad, the General Secretary of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), Mr. Le Hoai Anh, has confirmed that the VFF has completed negotiations with a Japanese coach.

Mr. Le Hoai Anh.

“The National Coaching Council selected two finalists from the VFF’s list of nominees, including one from Japan. The VFF has decided to choose the Japanese coach. Negotiations were completed yesterday, but the VFF does not want to reveal the name of the coach. We will hold a press conference to officially announce his name in the next few days," Hoai Anh said.

It is rumored that the new coach is Mr. Takeshi Okada, former coach of the Japanese national team. However, VFF Vice Chair Tran Quoc Tuan dismissed that suggestion.

A source from the VFF says that the Japanese coach arrived in Vietnam on Wednesday and that he will be introduced to the public on May 10.

The VFF is actively learning the development model of Japanese football, so it is giving priority to the hiring of a Japanese coach. Moreover, the salary for a Japanese coach is said to be moderate – that is,  within the VFF’s financial wherewithal.

VFF Chairman Le Hung Dung has revealed that new coach’s salary can be expected to be around $15,000 per month, of which $10,000 is to be paid by the Vietnam Sports and Physical Training Administration.

Earlier, a former world football star, Marcel Desailly, had applied for the position, with a requested salary of over  $50,000 per month.

This is the first time the VFF has recruited an Asian coach, having had, over the past two decades, coaches from Brazil, Germany, England, Austria, France and Portugal.

Nam Nguyen