Vũ Hồng Việt Returns to Lead Nam Định FC into Shopee Cup Semi-Final
Nam Dinh FC coach Vu Hong Viet returns to the bench to lead his side into the Shopee Cup semi-final against Selangor, with legs on May 6 and May 13. 2026
Nam Định FC have confirmed the return of Vũ Hồng Việt as head coach as the club prepares for a two-legged ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup semi-final against Selangor FC. The appointment comes with the club balancing domestic form and continental ambitions ahead of the May fixtures. Hồng Việt relinquished his technical director role to take direct charge and has set restoring confidence as his immediate priority.
Hồng Việt Returns to Nam Định Bench
Vũ Hồng Việt replaced Mauro Jéronimo in February and will oversee Nam Định’s preparations for the semi-final tie with Selangor on May 6 and May 13, 2026. The 47-year-old arrives having previously guided the club to V.League 1 titles in 2023/24 and 2024/25 and a Vietnamese Super Cup win in 2024. His return is being framed by the club as a attempt to recapture momentum domestically while pursuing a rare continental breakthrough.
Club officials described the change as mutual and timely after a period of uneven domestic results under Jéronimo. Hồng Việt emphasized the emotional connection he retains with Nam Định, noting his four-year association with the club and his desire to lead them deeper into regional competition. The decision signals the club’s willingness to prioritize experienced leadership for the high-stakes knockout matches.
Confidence Rebuild and Immediate Priorities
Restoring player confidence has been cited as Hồng Việt’s top task since re-assuming coaching duties, following a sequence of disappointing results in the V.League 1. He has identified motivation and tactical clarity as immediate objectives, aiming to reinstate a winning mentality that carried Nam Định through the Shopee Cup group stage. Training sessions this month have focused on sharpening transitional play and reinforcing defensive organization.
Hồng Việt has also begun a targeted review of individual performances and squad roles, stressing the need for mental resilience over the two-leg semi-final. The coach told players that the squad’s recent continental form proves they can compete at this level and that a return to collective belief will underpin tactical execution. Team meetings and tailored fitness work have been introduced to address the narrow margins that decide knockout ties.
Group Stage Performance and Nguyễn Xuân Sơn’s Form
Nam Định topped Group B in the Shopee Cup with an unbeaten record, winning four and drawing one of their five group matches to progress ahead of Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim. The club’s continental campaign was driven in large part by striker Nguyễn Xuân Sơn, who finished the group phase as the tournament’s leading scorer with seven goals. His scoring touch has become a central pillar of Nam Định’s attack and a focal point for opposition planning.
Hồng Việt has praised Xuân Sơn’s contribution while highlighting the need for supporting runs and chance creation from midfield. Opponents will inevitably target the striker, and Nam Định’s tactical shifts are intended to diversify attacking threats and reduce predictability. The coach has stressed that maintaining defensive solidity will allow attacking talents to operate with greater freedom.
Tactical Outlook Against Selangor
Hồng Việt described Selangor as a physically strong and pacey opponent, and he has prepared his squad to counter those attributes across the two legs. The Vietnamese side plans to mix compact defensive phases with quick vertical transitions to exploit gaps behind Selangor’s push forward. Training emphasis has included simulated high-press scenarios and rapid outlet passing to limit Selangor’s ability to sustain pressure.
Selection decisions are expected to balance experience and form, with Hồng Việt likely to favor players who can execute disciplined defensive blocks and contribute to fast break opportunities. Set-pieces have also been a focus, both offensively and defensively, given their potential to decide tight knockout matches. Tactical flexibility — shifting between a narrow defensive block and a wider attacking shape — is central to Nam Định’s game plan.
Fixture Dates, Venues and Tournament Roadmap
The semi-final first leg will be played in Selangor on May 6, with the return fixture scheduled at Thiên Trường Stadium on May 13, giving Nam Định a key home opportunity to overturn or protect any result from the away tie. The Shopee Cup final is set to be contested over two legs as well, with the first leg on May 20 and the second leg on May 27, 2026. The tournament’s structure rewards squads that can manage travel, rotation and intensity across a compressed calendar.
Buriram United and Johor Darul Ta’zim occupy the other semi-final bracket, setting up regional heavyweight clashes that underscore the competition’s elevated profile in Southeast Asia. Nam Định’s route to the title will require consistency across both legs and the ability to handle the tightly scheduled fixtures. The club’s medical and conditioning staff have been briefed to prioritize recovery protocols ahead of the May sequence.
Implications for Vietnamese Club Football
Hồng Việt pointed to Công An Hà Nội’s run to last season’s Shopee Cup final as evidence that Vietnamese clubs can compete successfully at regional level, and he framed Nam Định’s campaign as part of a broader national uplift. A Nam Định victory into the final would mark the second successive deep run by a Vietnamese team and reinforce the V.League 1’s growing competitiveness. For players and coaches alike, continental progress is increasingly viewed as both prestige and proof of domestic development.
A strong result would also enhance Nam Định’s profile in transfer markets and sponsorship conversations, providing tangible benefits beyond a trophy chase. The club’s leadership has signaled that continental success is a strategic priority, linking on-field performance to longer-term investment in facilities and youth development. Hồng Việt’s return is therefore as much about immediate results as it is about sustaining a platform for future growth.
Nam Định now faces a high-pressure fortnight that will test the club’s preparation, resilience and tactical adaptation, with Hồng Việt tasked with translating past success into a renewed run on the regional stage. The semi-final dates give the team clear targets for fitness and focus, and supporters will expect the coach’s experience to be decisive over the two legs. If Nam Định can manage the physical demands and convert chances through players like Nguyễn Xuân Sơn, the club will arrive at the final stages as a genuine contender for the Shopee Cup title.
