VFF held an emergency meeting with Troussier immediately after Vietnam’s 0-3 loss to Indonesia at Hanoi’s My Dinh Stadium on Tuesday evening. They reached an agreement to separate after more than an hour and a half, at 11:30 p.m.
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Coach Philippe Troussier during the press conference after Vietnam’s 0-3 defeat against Indonesia at My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi on March 26, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Thoa |
Troussier’s salary under the contract is slightly higher than that of his predecessor Park Hang-seo, which was $50,000 per month after taxes, according to VnExpressIt is sources. The extra payment was partly due to him being in charge of both the national and under-23 teams.
Troussier took office in March 2023 and his contract requires him to take Vietnam to the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup.
Vietnam theoretically still has a chance in the two remaining matches against the Philippines and Iraq in June.
Thus, based on the contract signed until July 2026, VFF could not yet dismiss Troussier, said a senior official of the federation. VnExpress.
“But we persuaded Troussier to look at reality, when confidence in the team hit rock bottom, the fans reacted strongly. [against Troussier’s coaching style] and the team needs immediate restructuring.”
The official said both parties agreed to terminate the contract on March 26, 2024, without compensation.
VFF offered to “support” about three months of his salary and Troussier accepted, the VFF representative said.
Another source of VnExpress said: “Troussier seems to have prepared for this.
During his more than a year in Vietnam, Troussier’s only achievement was securing a place in the final of the 2024 AFC U23 Championship. Previously, he failed to lead Vietnam to success in the 32nd SEA Games , winning only a bronze medal. The team also failed to advance past the group stage of the 2023 Asian Cup, losing all three matches.
In May 2023, Troussier’s U23 team also lost 2-3 to Indonesia in the semi-final of SEA Games 32.
VFF had said they chose Troussier because of his track record with many achievements and his previous start with Vietnam.
Troussier, 68, played as a defender for French clubs from 1976 to 1983. He became a coach immediately after retiring. Nicknamed the “White Wizard” for his successful stay in Africa, Troussier ruled Ivory Coast, Nigeria, South Africa and Burkina Faso.
His international career peaked during his time in Japan (1998-2002) when he won the 2000 AFC Asian Cup.
Two years later, he led Japan to the round of 16 of the 2002 World Cup, the country’s best-ever run in this competition. In 2020, the Asian Football Confederation named him one of the greatest coaches in the history of the Asian Cup.
Troussier served as strategic advisor and then technical director of the Vietnamese Football Talent Promotion Fund (PVF) Academy in 2018. A year later, he was named head coach of the Vietnamese U19 team, which he helped qualify for the 2020 AFC U19 Championship, which was canceled due to Covid-19. He left after his contract with VFF expired in June 2021.
