Toshiya Miura sacked as Vietnam head coach

January 28, 2016 | 16:52

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The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) decided on Thursday to fire Japanese coach Toshiya Miura after a series of poor performances by the teams under his helm, with the latest disappointing games played in an Asian under-23 championship this month.

VFF officials reached a conclusion at a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City that they will terminate the contract with Miura two months early.

Two Vietnamese coaches, Le Huynh Duc and Nguyen Huu Thang, are being considered candidates to replace the 53-year-old Japanese man.

The two were national teammates, with Duc a star striker and Thang an ‘iron’ defender back in the 1990s and 2000s.

Duc is coaching league heavyweights SHB Da Nang while Thang is taking the wheel at Song Lam Nghe An, another leading league side.

Vietnam Football Federation officials are pictured at a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on January 28, 2016,
when they decided to dismiss Toshiya Miura. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The VFF is expected to pay Miura two months’ salary as compensation, with his gross monthly pay estimated at US$25,000.

The football governing body is required to notify him of the contract termination one month in advance, so it will have to pay him three months’ salary in total before seeing him off.

Miura was appointed manager of both the national and U-23 squads of Vietnam in May 2014.

He gave an impressive performance during his early days, as his men displayed a lively style of play in several tournaments, staging a shock 4-1 victory over Iran to advance to the round of 16 at the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea.

Le Huynh Duc speaks during a press meeting at an international tournament in Vietnam this year.
Photo: Tuoi Tre

But he has since been criticized for failing to find a ‘fixed’ formation for both teams and using a brand new formation for every match.

He has also been under fire over allegedly encouraging his players to play ‘tough’ football, preferring muscular rather than skillful football.

The last straw came earlier this month when he failed to deliver on his promise to take the U-23 team to the quarterfinals at the AFC U-23 Championship.

His men bowed out of the competition after losing 1-3 to Jordan, 0-2 to Australia, and 2-3 to the UAE.

Nguyen Huu Thang reacts in a Vietnam league game. Photo: Tuoi Tre