Toshiya Miura sacked as Vietnam’s men’s football coach

Japanese tactician Toshiya Miura has officially been sacked as coach of Vietnam’s men’s national and U23 football teams. 

Miura’s contract has been terminated two months ahead of the expiration date.
Miura’s contract has been terminated two months ahead of the expiration date.

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) confirmed the decision at an extraordinary meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on January 28, saying that a domestic trainer would be chosen as a replacement.

Miura’s contract was terminated two months ahead of the expiration date with 11 YES votes among 16 VFF Executive Committee members casting ballots.

Along with his dismissal, the Japanese trainer will be paid off as compensation for the remaining two months of the contract.

Toshiya Miura took the hot seat as coach of Vietnam’s national and U23 teams following a two-year contract signed with the VFF in May 2014. During his stay in charge, Miura led Vietnam’s national squad to the semifinals of the 2014 AFF Cup, while accompanying the Olympic team through to the knockout stage of the 17th Asian Games in the Republic of Korea, the bronze medal at the 28th SEA Games in Singapore and the first-ever ticket to play in the AFC U23 Championship Finals.

However, Miura came under heavy criticism in recent days regarding Vietnam’s poor performance at the 2016 AFC U23 Championship in Qatar, losing all their three matches to Jordan, Australia and the UAE.

The National Coach Council will be responsible for seeking a Vietnamese trainer to replace Miura in the hot seat, with Nguyen Huu Thang, former manager of Song Lam Nghe An FC, as the leading candidate at present.