Change in U.17 Vietnam coach position
Vietnam U.17 will participate in the 2025 AFC U.17 Championship finals next April. The tournament held in Saudi Arabia is also considered the qualifying round for the 2025 U.17 World Cup, when the teams that make it to the quarterfinals will have tickets to the world stage.
Initially, the head coach position of U.17 Vietnam was assigned to coach Cristiano Roland. Mr. Roland had coached the U.17 Hanoi team to win the national championship in 2024, then was appointed to lead U.17 Vietnam to play in the Peace Cup friendly tournament in China. Under the guidance of the Brazilian coach, the young Vietnamese players made a splash when they defeated both U.17 Uzbekistan and U.17 Japan to win the runner-up position.
Coach Cristiano Roland
After that, it was Coach Roland who led U.17 Vietnam to the 2025 U.17 Asian Cup finals, with 1 win and 2 draws in the qualifying round. The position of coach of U.17 Vietnam in the finals was assigned to Coach Roland from that moment.
However, the decision to appoint Roland as the technical director of Da Nang FC from the Brazilian coach's parent company changed everything. That means Roland cannot lead the team in the U.17 Asian Cup finals, and the VFF has contacted another candidate. Thanh Nien Newspaper's source revealed that it is a Japanese coach who has led Japanese youth teams and has extensive experience in youth training.
After the professional department submitted the plan to appoint the Japanese coach to the National Coaching Council, VFF initially contacted this strategist. However, once again, a turning point occurred: Technical Director Roland left the Da Nang team to return to U.17 Hanoi. At this time, Mr. Roland could again lead the team in the U.17 Asian finals.
Because there is not much time left to prepare for the 2025 AFC U17 Championship, Coach Roland is a more suitable and safer choice. He has time to bond with his students and possesses a suitable philosophy. VFF has sent a dispatch to the Hanoi team leader to summon Coach Roland to the Vietnam U17 team. When the capital team gives the green light, Mr. Roland and his assistant will return to work.
Mr. Roland almost missed the U.17 Asian finals.
However, the Japanese candidate is expected to still sign a contract with VFF to be part of the U.17 Vietnam coaching team. The Japanese expert will play the role of "deputy general" to advise Roland. Thus, the U.17 Vietnam coaching team will still include the highest quality elements to serve the World Cup dream.
Ambition
Vietnam U.17 is in the same group as Japan U.17 (reigning champion), Australia U.17 and UAE U.17 in the 2025 AFC U.17 Championship. To get a ticket to the World Cup, the Vietnamese youth team must pass the group stage, meaning finishing first or second.
Vietnam U.17 has twice passed the Asian group stage (2004, 2016). The last time they participated in the tournament in 2023, the team could not create any surprises when they were in a tough group with Japan U.17, Uzbekistan U.17 and India U.17.
Responding to Thanh Nien Newspaper, Coach Roland emphasized: "The tournament will gather the strongest U.17 teams in the continent. The challenge for U.17 Vietnam is very difficult, but that does not mean the World Cup goal is impossible or out of reach.
We will prepare the best, try to complete every step as thoroughly as possible, from screening and concentrating forces, training, consolidating playing style, training more offensive and defensive tactics or improving the players' mentality and physical strength. U.17 Vietnam must go through a rigorous preparation period to aim for the U.17 Asian playground. However, the players already understand the goal. That is the core thing."
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hlv-roland-tro-lai-u17-viet-nam-de-mo-world-cup-vff-moi-them-tuong-nhat-ban-185250209195249481.htm
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